Coach Sally's athletic and coaching journey spans more than five decades, beginning with her first half-mile race—run barefoot on a dirt track on an island in the Kingdom of Tonga. Since then, she has distinguished herself in the world of distance running, earning Hall of Fame honors at both her high school and college alma maters.

As an International Team Adidas marathon runner, Sally competed in Bermuda, Japan, Australia, and Canada, and represented Team Adidas in the inaugural U.S. Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials in 1984—and again in 1988—finishing as Connecticut’s top competitor both times. Ultimately content with her highest Boston Marathon finish (17th place) and her personal best time of 2:44:25, she transitioned to triathlon, setting and breaking course records across New England.

During her four-decade career as an English teacher at a Connecticut private school, Sally also coached the boys’ cross country and distance track programs to multiple individual and team championship titles.

A ski accident and subsequent knee replacement may have sidelined her from running, but she now finds joy in spinning, road biking, swimming (both pool and open water), paddling, and disc golf—often in the company of her husband, Peter, and their sons, Miles and Tate.