The cross country season may have concluded, but the search for Gatorade State Girls Cross Country Runners of the Year is in full swing. The award recognizes not only athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated. These state meet performers made a case in their respective classifications, but did they do enough on and off the course this past season to capture the prestigious statewide honor?

Cassidy Hale
Junior, duPont Manual (Louisville, Ky.)

2011 Team postseason standing: 5th (Class AAA)
2011 State meet finish (Place—time): 1st—18:55.89

2011 Foot Locker regional (Place—time): 15th—17:41

Caterina Karas
Senior, Martha Layne Collins (Shelbyville, Ky.)

2011 Team postseason standing: 3rd (Class AA)
2011 State meet finish (Place—time): 2nd—18:46.20

2011 AAU National Championships (Place—time): 1st—17:54.11

Maddox Patterson
Freshman, Sayre School (Lexington, Ky.)

2011 Team postseason standing: 5th (Class A)
2011 State meet finish (Place—time): 1st—18:58.53

2011 Foot Locker regional (Place—time): 86th—18:50

Winning the state meet isn't a prerequisite for Gatorade State Cross Country Runner of the Year, so here are some more of many other harriers whose performances this past season vaulted them into the conversation during this 2011 campaign.

Kristen Hale: Junior, duPont Manual (Louisville, Ky.)
Lindsey Hinken: Senior, St. Henry District (Burlington, Ky.)
Bailey Davis: Sophomore, Assumption (Louisville, Ky.)
Whitney O'Bryan: Sophomore, Daviess County (Owensboro, Ky.)
Katherine Receveur: Sophomore, Assumption (Louisville, Ky.)

Think we're missing a deserving Gatorade State Runner of the Year candidate in your state? Let us know via e-mail at ESPNHS_GPOY@ESPN.com.