Katie Rainsberger can add national champion to her list of accomplishments.
The senior at Air Academy has won two Class 4A cross country titles and been runner-up twice.
On Saturday in Portland, Ore., she won the National Cross Nationals, finishing first in 16 minutes, 56.8 seconds. Rainsberger, was 13th as a freshman and sixth the past past two seasons.
“Itap something that I’ve pictured since my freshman year,” she told USA Today High School Sports. “ Coming out here and being so green and wide-eyed back then and now coming here and closing it out, itap amazing. I don’t know if I have words for it. Itap something I’ve worked and dreamed about for four years. I know itap special.”
Rainsberger, who has signed with Oregon, finished ahead of runner-up Ella Donaghu of Grant High in host Portland. Donaghu’s time was 17:10.20.
Lyons senior Paul Roberts, who won four consecutive 2A titles, finished 11th in 15:23.
Mountain’s boys, the first local team to qualify, finished 12th, headed by Paxton Smith, who was 71st in 16:01.30.
