LaSalle Cross Country Standout is Named Gatorade Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year
Friday, January 21, 2011
She runs fast, dominates the class room and now is tapped by Gatorade as the top cross country runner from RI in 2010-2011 - meet Molly Keating.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the racecourse, distinguishes Keating as Rhode Island’s best high school girls cross country runner. Keating is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year award to be announced in January, Keating joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports.
Keating has maintained an A average in the classroom. She has volunteered locally on behalf of her church, her school’s peer-mentoring program and multiple charity-fundraiser road races.
“Molly is one of the toughest competitors Rhode Island running has ever seen,” said La Salle Academy head coach Kelly Martin. “She displays an unbelievable desire to be the best, and her work ethic and determination are unparalleled. She is also extremely devoted to her teammates and cares for them a tremendous amount. She comes from a very supportive family, and it shows in the graceful way this champion conducts herself.”
Previous national sports superstar winners include Ryan Hall (1999-00, 2000-01, Big Bear HS, Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Kevin Garnett (1992-93, Maudlin HS, S.C.), Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.) and Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.).
Keating is a 5-foot-4 junior and she captured a second consecutive All-State Meet individual championship this past season with a time of 18:51.9—the second-fastest clocking in history on the state-meet course—leading the Rams to first place as a team. A two-time First Team All-State selection as named by, Keating also captured first place for the second straightyear at the Class A meet in 18:33.74. She finished third at New York’s Manhattan Invitational Varsity B race and placed 28th at the prestigious Great American Cross Country Festival, recording the fastest time by a Rhode Island female runner at both meets. Keating won the 2009 All-State Meet as a sophomore and finished 12th as a freshman.
