Wasilla sophomore named Gatorade Player of the Year for girls cross-country running

Hailee Giacobbe has made school history once again.

In the fall, the Wasilla High School sophomore became the first Warrior in school history to win a girls cross-country running state title. Now, Giacobbe is the first Wasilla High cross-country runner to be named the Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year for that sport.

Giacobbe used a superb strategy and stellar second lap to earn the Division I girls individual state title during the ASAA/First National Bank State Cross-Country Running Championships at Bartlett High School in Anchorage in October.

“Nope. I had no idea,” Giacobbe said after the race when asked if she thought she had any shot of winning a state title as she started her sophomore season. “I didn’t even think it’d be a chance.”

The strategy turned out to be a championship-worthy script. Giacobbe was in the middle of the pack early, and started the second lap in third place. During the final kilometer, after making her move, Giacobbe was creating space between herself and the other top runners. Giacobbe crossed the finish line in 19 minutes, 4.5 seconds. She finished five seconds ahead of Juneau-Douglas senior Ida Meyer, the runner up, and about 10 seconds ahead of Colony senior Ella Hopkins, who finished third.

After the state meet, Giacobbe finished as Alaska’s top runner in the Nike Northwest Regional Championships.

“Hailee is a phenomenal competitor,” Wasilla head coach Leslie Varys said in a press release. “She started the season strong and finished near the top of every race. But the most exciting part was her determination and focus which led her to win the final four races of the season.”

Giacobbe also boasts a 3.95 grade point average. She is now the eighth Wasilla High athlete to earn a Gatorade Player of the Year award, joining a group that includes Alysha Devine (girls basketball 2013), Connor Devine (boys basketball 2012), Morgan Dampier (girls track and field 2011, 2012), Jenna Johnson (girls basketball 2009), Jesse Bean (boys basketball 2007), Chandice Cronk (girls basketball 2004) and Ray Shafer (boys basketball 2003).

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.