St. Joseph's junior Ava Dobson was named Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year for the state, the company announced today.
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The 5-foot-6 junior raced to the Class 2A state championship this past season with a time of 18:03.47, leading the Knights to the state title as a team. The state's returning Gatorade Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, Dobson also won the Greenville County Championships and the CiCi's Sandhills Invitational. She placed 14th at the Foot Locker South Regional championships.
Dobson has volunteered locally on behalf of Triune Mercy Center, helping the low-income and homeless populations in Greenville, along with Rise Against Hunger, an international humanitarian aid organization in addition to donating her time to a summer camp for special needs children.
"Ava is a true example of tenacity in the face of adversity," said St. Joseph's coach Marie Kernell. "Even when she couldn't race because of an injury sustained at the end of the track season, she worked just as hard as everyone else with the goal of joining her team as soon as her doctor would release her. She's very coachable, a team player, positive, humble and upbeat."
Dobson has maintained an A average in the classroom. She will begin her senior year of high school this fall.