2024 girls cross country All-GPC team

AnnMarie Gibson was selected as the inaugural Graphic Printing Company Runner of the Year for girls cross country.

“Amazing. That’s really cool,” said the senior. “It’s been a lot of help from coaches and teammates. Parents and friends have also been very encouraging, which I think helps me a lot ... It just makes me feel like I have to do good for them not just for myself.”

Gibson, who also plays volleyball for the Raiders, won the Mid-Eastern Conference Championship in a school-record time of 19 minutes, 14.67 seconds. She will close her career Saturday by running in the IHSAA Girls Cross Country State Finals after placing 28th in the regional meet at Huntington University.

“To see her trajectory, where she came from when she first started running in high school last year to where she is now, is unbelievable,” said WHS coach Bo Stevenson. “She’s only going to continue to improve. She hasn’t ran her best race yet.”

All-Graphic Printing Company first team

Joelle Kaup, Fort Recovery senior: With a career-best time of 20:11.7 at the district, Kaup led the Indians to a regional berth despite the fact that they graduated four runners from their 2023 state finalist team.

Ava Cook, Wapahani sophomore: Only trailing her teammate Gibson, Cook posted the second-fastest individual time of the season among local runners with a 19:54.9 at the sectional meet.

Avery Thomas, Monroe Central junior: Thomas led the Golden Bears throughout the season, highlighting her year with a win at the Randolph County Championships in 21:37.01.

Riley Heitkamp, Fort Recovery freshman: With teammate Makenna Huelskamp out for most of the year with an injury, Heitkamp was the solid No. 2 runner behind Kaup with an average time of 21:54.

Everly Carter, Delta freshman: Carter earned All-Hoosier Heritage Conference honors by finishing sixth in the race at Shelbyville and was also sixth at the Delaware County meet.

Haileigh Allen, Randolph Southern junior: Running to honor her mom/coach, who had just undergone surgery, Allen won the Meister Family Memorial Run in August at Monroe Central in 21:31.1.

Honorable mentions:

Makenna Huelskamp – Fort Recovery

Andi Watson – Monroe Central

Brooklynn Byrum – Jay County

Addison Shue – Delta

Abby Fifer – Jay County

Anna Roessner – Fort Recovery

Jessie Homan – Jay County

Ava May – Jay County

Ava Jefferis – Union City