Triton’s Connerty hurdles to history with NJCAA DIII title

In just over a year, Triton College sophomore Ava Connerty of Riverside has seen her track and field fortunes change drastically. They did so the same way for the finals of the women’s 100-meter high hurdles at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Championships May 10 in Utica, N.Y. after a disappointing fourth-place preliminary finish in cold and gloomy conditions May 8.

“(Finals) was such a nice day. It was warm. It was sunny. I just had a different mindset,” Connerty said. “I was so confident, just in the right headspace that day. I knew I would do good and I did.” 

Connerty captured the national title with a huge lifetime-best of 15.24 seconds to become the first women’s track and field national champion in Triton history. In 2024, Connerty was second at nationals after joining the team mid-season.

“Being a national champion is one thing but also being the first (Triton) female track athlete overall to be a national champion, I don’t know how to put it into words. It’s such an amazing accomplishment,” said Connerty, a 2023 Riverside Brookfield High School graduate. “Last year, coming in second was the closest best thing. I don’t know what would top being a national champion.” 

Before her title, Connerty hadn’t run faster than 15.80 April 25 at Elmhurst Twilight. That time would have placed third at nationals.

Connerty needed it all. She won by just 0.02 over Suffolk County (N.Y.) freshman Jayla Brown, who ran 15.11 May 3.

“I knew it was close but I was so sure that I’d crossed the line just before (Brown),” Connerty said. “I was really hoping to (get a personal record), too. I would have been happy with either outcome (alone).” 

Triton sophomores Joaliz Rodriguez and Samuel Elusoji from RBHS also were All-Americans. Rodriguez and Connerty contributed to the third-place 4×400 relay (4:28.23) and Elusoji was part on the men’s sixth-place 4×100 (44.91). 

Connerty joined the 4×400 for the first time at nationals in place of an injured teammate. She also was 10th in the 400 hurdles prelims (1:17.20).

Connerty is considering transferring to an NCAA Division II track program after finishing one more summer class to earn her associate’s degree in psychology.

It’s been quite a turnaround for Connerty, who transferred to Triton as a freshman after one semester at Minot (N.D.) State.

Finally joining track in mid-March, Connerty competed at just two meets. The Elmhurst Twilight qualified her for 2024 nationals, where she took second in a then-best 16.41.

“I didn’t think I would miss (track) but I would see old friends who were running college posting videos and pictures,” Connerty said. “I was like, ‘Dang. I wish that was me.’ ”

Behind a year of full training, Connerty continues improving. There is no Triton hurdles coach, but Connerty found workouts and tips online and received input from graduated Triton men’s hurdler Eli Amoh.

“Recently, I’ve really been believing in myself a lot more,” Connerty said. “I find the best thing for me is to focus on myself and know what I can do as a person.”

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