Douglas resident to compete in Cross Country and Track in college

By Chris Villani

Wheaton College was the first place Chloe Vescio looked when she decided she wanted to run in college. The Norton college is where the Blackstone Valley Tech graduate landed, with the perfect combination of academics and athletics drawing her to the school.

“I really loved the team, and I could see myself going there,” Vescio said. “It was a place where I could be seen as more than just a runner, but also as an actual person.”

Vescio said the Wheaton coaching staff was in touch with her throughout her season year at BVT, even though she missed her senior track season due to an injury suffered during cross country.

“The coach was really helpful and made sure I knew I still had a spot on the team,” Vescio said. 

Vescio said she plans to run the 5K in the fall and the 5K and 3K during the indoor season. She will compete in the 5K and 10K in outdoor track, but also wants to add the steeplechase, a mid-distance event that includes hurdles and water obstacles.

“I think it’s the most fun event on the track, it’s so fun to watch,” Vescio said, noting she enjoys some variety when she runs. 

“I prefer cross country over track because doing a 5K on a cross country course is more fun than doing it on a track where you’re running in circles 25 times,” she said.

Vescio also enjoys variety in the classroom. She has an interest in studying English and chemistry in college. She could see herself becoming a journalist or perhaps going into forensics.

She also wants to become a stronger runner to head off some of the injuries that have nagged her during her high school career. She admits to being a little “injury prone” and had to miss her junior cross country season after getting hurt.

“I have been doing more strength work,” Vescio said. “I am hoping to have full college seasons without getting injured again. The main way you improve in running is consistency, and you can’t do that when you are out for months at a time.”

Vescio said she is looking forward to enjoying life on the quaint New England liberal arts campus and appreciates that it is only about 40 minutes from home. She is the last of the children to leave the house and is very close with her parents, Elaine and Don, whom she says were very helpful during the college recruiting process.

“They made sure I knew it was ultimately my decision,” Vescio said. “They have been really, really kind through everything, and we’ve been trying to spend a lot of time together this summer.”