Loved ones remember Zach Barry, ‘a track runner to some, a great friend to others’
Zach Barry, a 22‑year‑old track star from Scarborough, died after a fatal car crash in Mansfield, Connecticut, on Wednesday. The accident occurred when the Volvo he was driving crossed over to the opposite lane on Hunting Lodge Road and struck a tree. Barry was pronounced dead at Hartford Hospital; investigators are still looking into the incident.
Barry’s life was defined on the track. While at Scarborough High School he dominated the distance events, winning the mile and 800‑meter races at the Class A outdoor state championships in 2021 and taking second in the two‑mile. He earned 28 points for the school’s relay team and helped Scarborough capture the state indoor title in 2022. Coach Derek Veilleux, who coached him in high school, said, “He was the perfect example of what can happen when someone is viewed as a talented individual and also chooses to work hard at something. That is something that is so rare nowadays.”
In college, Barry ran for the University of Connecticut from 2022 to 2024. He studied plant science with a focus on turfgrass, joined a fraternity, and discovered a talent for golf. According to UConn’s Dean of Students Office, Barry was a senior in his final year when the tragedy occurred.
“Whatever Barry applied himself to, he always wanted to be and do the best he could,” said his high‑school distance coach, Colin Jones. “He was talented enough that he could have succeeded without much work, but he didn’t take shortcuts.” Jones recalled a moment from Barry’s senior indoor season in 2022 when Barry lost a 600‑meter race he had expected to win. “He could have let that be the defining moment of the season. He could have stopped running and dropped out of the rest of the races that day,” Jones said. “Instead, he continued running and winning.”
Flaker, Barry’s closest teammate and longtime friend, remembered the camaraderie they built from the soccer field at Pleasant Hill Primary School to the track. “Everybody probably knows him as just a really good track runner. He’s a track runner to some, a great friend to others,” Flaker said. “But he’s like a brother that was always there. He’d always be your hype man in the corner.” Flaker recalled watching Barry sprint alongside him in the final 100 meters of the 4×200‑meter relay at the 2022 indoor championship, “pumping his fist” as Flaker crossed the finish line first and Scarborough claimed the title by three points.
Barry was also a force on campus and in the community. “He was the reason the student section was so big in high school,” Flaker added. “He supported every sports team, both the girls and boys, and if he posted on the student section Instagram page telling people to come to a game, the student section would be packed.” His enthusiasm and leadership extended beyond the field: he was an All‑State cross‑country runner, an SMAA first‑team all‑star, and a dedicated participant in lacrosse and soccer.
“Everybody loved him. I don’t think anybody will have one bad thing to say about him,” Flaker said. “He always stood up for what he believed in.”
The sudden loss of Barry has stunned the Scarborough community, the UConn track program, and his family. Though the Connecticut State Police have released a preliminary statement describing the crash, they have not yet ruled out any contributing factors. The investigation is ongoing.
Barry’s legacy is one of hard work, humility, and camaraderie. Whether as a record‑setting runner, a supportive teammate, or an enthusiastic booster for fellow athletes, he left an indelible mark on every group he touched. His passing is a reminder of the fragility of life, even for those who seem unstoppable on the track.
