Girls Runner of the Year: Katelyn Tuohy, North Rockland
1ST TEAM
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1. Katelyn Tuohy, North Rockland (NY), sophomore
Talk about an epic cross country season. In 2017, Tuohy broke five course records in New York and another at NXN, obliterating the national championship field in 16:44.70. Many of her record efforts surpassed all-time greats such as Jessica Lawson's Van Cortland Park 4K effort in 2015 and Aisling Cuffe's Bear Mountain State Park 5K run in 2010. The most prominent performance came at NXN on December 2, giving Tuohy her first national title, but perhaps her breakout moment came at the Manhattan Invitational during her 13.21.8 effort, a record that shocked the state of New York and beyond. She also won her first state title, grabbed a New York Federation win, and earned an NXR New York championship.
2. Claudia Lane, Malibu High (CA), junior
The best distance runner on the west coast co-signed on a legendary season, too, culminating with her second straight Foot Locker Nationals title in 17:03.40 on December 9. Lane also set a record at Woodward Park during the CIF Division 4 title race, producing a time of 16:30.30, and ran all-time bests on Mt. SAC's 5K (16:59.60) and 3-mile courses (15:49.00). Those latter performances surpassed Sarah Baxter's all-time performances. Lane also opened her season with a course record at Lake Casitas Twilight and swept through the rest of the California season, cruising to wins at Tri-Valley League, Southern Section prelims and finals races. Her season may not even be over yet, either.
3. Katelynne Hart, Glenbard West (IL), sophomore
The Glenbard West High sophomore, now a two-time defending Class 3A state champion in cross country, added her second straight All-American performance at NXN, finishing fourth overall, and was second at Foot Locker Nationals. Hart also earned a big win at NXR Midwest region and set a personal best at 3-miles in 16:08.70 at the Lake Park Lancer Invitational on September 9. She went undefeated in Illinois throughout 2017.
4. Olivia Theis, Lansing Catholic (MI), senior
Theis had a mega season this fall, earning her first Michigan Division 2 state title and producing three efforts under 17 minutes on the season. Her overall resume in 2017 stacks up as one of the best ever in Lansing and was bookended by a stellar finish on the national scene, which included a win at Foot Locker Midwest and a third-place outing at Foot Locker Nationals -- her second straight All-American performance. She's headed to the University of Michigan next fall.
5. Kelsey Chmiel, Saratoga Springs (NY), junior
Chmiel kicked it into gear in her final race of 2017, finishing second overall at NXN on December 2. If not for Tuohy, Chmiel would have dominated New York, garnering impressive performances at the New York State Class A Championships (18:32.20), the New York Federation Championships (17:32.50), and Great American (16:50.30), where she picked up a career PB.
6. Mariah Castillo, Saugus High (CA), senior
Somewhat off the radar until NXN, where Castillo finished third overall in a remarkable race to finish out her cross country career, Castillo was impressive throughout the California season, finishing second at in the Division 2 state race at CIF (17:15.70), second at CIF Southern Section Finals (16:28.40), and second at the Mt. SAC Invitational's team sweepstakes race (17:00.00). Castillo is a signee with Texas Christian University.
7. Claire Walters, Fayetteville-Manlius (NY), sophomore
Walters was one part of an engine for FM that made the national champion squad tick, and her sophomore season was a breakout one. She finished fifth overall at NXN, helping the Hornets to their 11th national title in 12 seasons, was third at NXR New York (18:17.30), third at the Class A New York state race (19:11.60), and first at the Section 3 Championships (17:44.40).