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Boys coach Rob Murray named part of the cross country course at Tarrywile for Healey on Tuesday as the Danbury High team ran its last regular season home meet of the season there.
"We renamed the small meadow the Pat Healey Meadow. This meadow is one mile into our course and runs a quarter-mile in length," Murray said.
Healey, 21, a member of the DHS Class of 2013, died unexpectedly on July 14. Healey was a rising senior and varsity cross-country and track and field runner at New York University.
At Danbury High, he was a member of the National Honor Society and a captain of the conference championship-winning cross country team, in addition to being an integral part of the indoor and outdoor track and field teams.
Murray said the small meadow is a central part of the course. It's where the team does many of its workouts. "It's before we shoot down the final straightaway to the finish line," he said.
The team practices and races at Tarrywile — and hosts alumni races there in the late fall.
"Pat will always be a part of the Danbury High School Cross Country family," Murray said. "We want to keep Pat's memory distinguished and alive. He will always be a role model to all team members.
"Pat was an unbelievable student and athlete. More importantly, he was a good person, very giving, warm and inviting to others who were around him. We dedicated part of our course to him as a memory of the things that he exhibited."
Aside from dedicating part of the course to Healey, the team also dedicated its championship singlets to him. The shirts are emblazoned with "Pat H 2012 Captain" on the back.
At Tuesday's meet, which was against Stamford High School and Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, every senior on Danbury's cross country team raced in the shirt.
"We will dedicate our championship season to Pat," Murray said. "When we compete, he will be there in spirit. He'll always be a significant part of our program, both in the present and future."
Patrick Healey's family has established an athletic scholarship in his name. Those who are interested in contributing to the scholarship should contact Danbury High School athletic director Chip Salvestrini.
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