Briahna Gerlach was named Alaska's Gatorade runner of the year in girls cross country, marking the first time the award has gone to a Glennallen athlete — and the first time since 2011 that someone other than Allie Ostrander has won it.
Gerlach, a junior, ran to her third straight Class 1-2-3A championship in October. The victory capped a season that included wins at the Tsalteshi Invitational, Palmer Invitational, Colony Invitational and Su Valley Invitational.
Briahna's success and multiple state championships in cross country and track have been an inspiration to the community," Glennallen co-coach Heidi Jacobsen said in a press release. "We've seen our running program grow, in part due to the attention that she brings to the sport."
In each of the previous four years, the Gatorade award went to Kenai Central runner Allie Ostrander, who as a freshman at Boise State last fall placed second at the NCAA championships.
The winner of the boys' award will be announced next week.