Yankton Soph gets Gatorade honor

CHICAGO -- Yankton sophomore Mariah Hofer has been selected as the first recipient of the Gatorade South Dakota Girls' Cross Country Runner of the Year award.

Hofer finished third in the S.D. State Class AA Cross Country meet, helping the Gazelles win a fifth straight state title. She also finished sixth in the Nike Team Nationals Heartland Regional, helping Yankton finish second and qualify for Nike Team Nationals for a fourth time.

Hofer has maintained a 3.9 weighted grade-point average, participates in the high school band, and is an active member of the First United Methodist Church Senior High Youth Group and the YHS Spanish Club.

Hofer joins former Yankton athletes Ketty Cornemann (volleyball, 2005-06), Tate Pesicka (basketball, 2005-06), Ramsey Kavan (track and field, 2004-05 and 2001-02), Scott Nedved (football, 1997-98), Chris Fischer (track and field, 1993-94) and Jon Bos (football, 1986-87) as having won this honor.