High school cross country preview: Avon's Kaitlyn Reese bidding to make history

Avon's Kaitlyn Reese is a once-in-a-generation runner when it comes to Lorain County high school girls cross country. A three-time All-Ohio (top 30) selection and three-time Division I Lorain County Runner of the Year, Reese keeps pushing to higher and higher levels as she enters her senior season. She has a great chance to make Lorain County history. Only five other Lorain County girls have achieved as many as three All-Ohio honors. She can be the second to do it in all four years. "I've had some high goals set since freshman year," Reese said. "Always the goal is going to be to win. That's a big goal of mine and little things along the way that'll help me get there." Avon Lake's Colleen Byrne was all-state four times and led the way with four top-10 finishes in Division II between 1994-97. She was fourth (19:02) in 1994, ninth in 1995 (19:27), third in 1996 (18:53) and fifth in 1997 (18:51). Amherst has had three girls finish All-Ohio three times. Amy McKinley won the 1991 Division I state title (18:24.3) and took second in 1992 (18:27) and fourth in 1990 (18:40). The late Beth Huffman went 11th, seventh and sixth in Division I from 1978-80. Christine Thompson podiumed three times (12th, 10th and seventh) in Division I between 1994-96 and also qualified to state as a freshman. Elyria's Anne Densmore also won three All-Ohio awards. Densmore won the 1983 Class AAA (now Division I) meet as a freshman in 17:26.6. She followed with a third place in 1984 in 18:48 and a fourth in 1985 in 19:00. Reese finished 20th at state in 18:45.0 as a freshman. She placed fifth in 2023 in 18:12.0. Last year she was seventh in a sizzling 17:35.50, the fastest time at state by a Lorain County girl since Densmore's winning time in 1983. "It's bittersweet that it is senior year but all four years I've been working very hard," said Reese. "I have a couple of senior buddies with me, but overall we're a young program. It's pretty cool to see what we've brought up through our years. Next year with us gone we'll be passing on the torch." The Avon girls had great success last fall. They won the Elyria district for the second year in a row and the Southwestern Conference for the fourth year in a row. The Eagles qualified to the state meet for the third straight year, placing 12th out of 20 teams. "Ever since Kaitlyn has come on to the team she's been a great leader," fifth-year Avon coach Justin Carroll said. "And just because she does all the right things, all the little things, the things that not all of us want to do, she's always doing. "Regardless of her success she's always setting up herself and her teammates to be the most successful that they can be because she focuses so much on the little things that a lot of us neglect." The quality of high school girls cross country has really taken off over the last four years, as evidenced by Reese's 2024 state meet time drop compared to the previous year. Last year 13 runners finished under 18 minutes in the Division I race, led by Uniontown Lake senior Daniela Scheffler (17:01.29). A total of 53 runners broke 19 minutes. In 2023 only three girls broke 18, led by Lakota West junior Evelyn Poedehl (17:23.8), while 39 were under 19. In 2022 only two runners eclipsed 18, led by Olmsted Falls' Katie Clute (17:25.1), while 27 were under 19. Reese's senior class statewide is loaded. Eight of last year's top 11 finishers from Division I are back. Seven of those eight are seniors. Eighteen of the top 23 finishers are back, including 15 seniors. "Honestly, the difference has been my teammates," Reese said. "They get me through practices, they get me through workouts. I feel like we bring each other up. I have a great group of girls around me, our whole, entire team, not just varsity. "The JV girls bring the hype and the excitement each day. That definitely plays a role into it. Obviously my coaches are a huge reason for our success. They know best how to train me and for the team. They keep me from getting burned out. I think they've done a tremendous job with getting me to where I am for my senior year." The Avon team also can make history. If the Eagles earn a return trip to state from the Boardman regional Oct. 25, they would become just the second Lorain County girls cross country team to advance to state four straight years, and the first since Amherst from 1990-93. Reese credits Carroll for the success the Eagles have enjoyed. "We've all worked well together with training plans and things. He's really open to any ideas that I have," said Reese, a Michigan State University recruit. "We really work well together figuring that all out. I think he set me up for success for college. I'm very thankful for what he's done for me and for the girls on the team." Reese has always taken seriously the example she sets as the team's No. 1 runner since her freshman year. "The girls in my class (Jessica Pendleton, Olivia Pajak and Julianna Stein), it's just been so fun to watch them grow since our freshman year," she said. "As a team leader role with responsibility, good character is important to me. Obviously it isn't always going to be sunshine and butterflies. It's just important to stay focused on the bigger goals. "It's very special what we have here. We have a great bond. It's been a bit different adjusting to the role of seniors, but I feel like we're adjusting well." In addition to Reese, Pendleton, Pajak and Stein, Avon returns Ava Melott and Molly Pomfrey as it brings back six of last year's top eight. "Kaitlyn's just a great leader on and off course and the track," said Carroll. "She just does everything that's asked. If she sees people that are not doing it, she's always in a positive way making sure they're accountable and doing those right things. She has high aspirations for herself but she always feels that way about her teammates. It's been very cool to see her every year continue that regardless of her individual success. She's always been a team-first person as opposed to an individual. "To have her as a senior is really awesome, but it's felt like she's been a senior all four years because she's always been doing all the right things." Reese has also had a standout career on the track, qualifying to Division I state a total of eight times and earning All-Ohio (top eight) five times. She's been all-state twice in the 3,200 and once in the 1,600, 800 and as a member of the 3,200 relay. Reese holds or shares the school record in all four of those events. "I think that's why Kaitlyn's such a great teammate because she understands physically, mentally and emotionally, regardless of capability, everybody does things differently," Carroll said. "She's very good individualizing on how she approaches each teammate based off that. She's a great teammate that helps get the best out of her teammates regardless of some of those variables. It's been very fun to watch." Contact Paul Heyse at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.