Sutherland lands honor from Gatorade

When Sandburg High School's Kristin Sutherland captured the Class 3A individual girls cross country state championship in the fall, she couldn't have asked for a better way to end her outstanding career.

Sutherland not only captured the top prize, she did so in convincing fashion. Her time of 16 minutes, 50 seconds outpaced the next competitor by six seconds.

Now months removed from her final high school season, the awards and praise continue to shower down on the Eagle senior.

In conjunction with RISE Magazine, Sutherland was named the Gatorade Illinois Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year. As Illinois' honoree for the 2007-08 season, Sutherland becomes a member of the inaugural Gatorade State Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year class.

"That's awesome," said Sutherland, who was introduced to the sport as a sixth grader at Century Junior High in Orland Park. "It a really good way to start the new year. It's a cool honor."

The award not only recognizes excellence in the athletic field, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the race course.

Sutherland boasts a 4.7 grade-point average and volunteers in numerous community-service initiatives on behalf of the National Honor Society. In addition, she participates in First Class Charter, a school-based organization that promotes moral development.

"I'm an athlete, but I'm a student first," said Sutherland, who hopes to attend the University of Michigan, Illinois or Wisconsin in the fall. "School work is at the top of my list. When it comes down to it, education is what you need the rest of your life. My parents have always stressed that and always encouraged me to follow through with anything I do. I'm always busy, but I enjoy doing different things and helping others."

With the state award in tow, an even bigger award could be on the horizon for Sutherland, who's a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year award.

"Any time you can get national coverage, it's always a cool thing," Sutherland, 18, said.