Katie Rainsberger. (Brock Laue/CHSAANow.com)
Air Academy star Katie Rainsberger was named the national girls cross country runner of the year by Gatorade on Thursday.
She is the first national honoree in girls cross country from Colorado since the award was created in 2007.
Rainsberger, who won the award for Colorado for the second time last week, set the course record in winning the Class 4A championship in the fall when she finished in 17:39. Along with the individual win, she helped the Kadets win the 4A team title.
A senior, she is signed to run at Oregon.
“Despite Katie’s remarkable talent, she’s humble and puts her team before herself,” said Air Academy coach Steve Rischling in a statement. “She is a once-in-a-career runner, but she’s still a better person than she is a runner.”
After the high school season, Rainsberger won the Nike Cross Nationals Final. She also won the NXN Southwest Regional title.
“Success doesn’t happen over night but, instead, through layers of consistent, positive training,” Rainsberger told Gatorade. “Working hard and having fun are the keys that will lead to the greatest enjoyment and longevity.”
Rainsberger continues the trend of Colorado athletes to be honored with national awards. Last spring, Mountain Vista’s Mallory Pugh was named the national girls soccer player of the year. That followed Lewis-Palmer’s Alexa Smith being named the national volleyball player of the year by MaxPreps.