All-County Cross Country: Girls Runner of the Year

Sat. December 31, 2011 at 3:02 p.m. | By Solange Reyner

Mallory White, Lakeland Christian School, is the PolkPreps girls runner of the year. (Photo by Ernst Peters | THE LEDGER)

By SOLANGE REYNER
THE LEDGER

This season, cross country runner Mallory White was just getting back into the groove of competing.

And even after a year off, she still blew away the county competition.

The Lakeland Christian junior was the highest Polk finisher at the state meet this season and had a season-best time of 18:53.69.

For her performance, White is this year’s PolkPreps.com girls cross country runner of the year.

White took her sophomore year off because she needed a break from the sport. She said she returned this season rejuvenated.

Her main reason for coming back, though: To spend time with her friends, including teammates Rebecca Eaves and Mark Mutz.

“This was their last year, so I wanted to be there with them,” said White, who is also a track and field runner.

“Sometimes you get so focused on yourself that you forget about the people around you. They both love running so much and I just wanted to be a part of their final year.”

White dominated the field this season.

She won district and county titles and also finished first at the Jim Ryun Invi­tational.

Next season, she wants to come back stronger and get back to the times she was running when she was a freshman.

And, perhaps, another runner of the year title?

If this season is any indication of things to come, she’s on the right track.