Rainsberger wins national Gatorade award

Gatorade and USA Today named Air Academy senior Katie Rainsberger the National Girl’s Cross Country Runner of the Year.

She was chosen out of a field of nearly 220,000 runners around the country. To be chosen for the award was a humbling experience for her.

“Just to be mentioned, or honored, on the same trophy as Peyton Manning or Abby Wambach is a huge honor,” said Rainsberger. “I don’t think I deserve it.”

Rainsberger is now a finalist for the Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year award, which will be presented at a special ceremony before the ESPY awards in July.

Her mother Lisa Larsen Weidenbach was the last American women to win the Boston marathon, and this award underlines Katie’s desire to blaze her own trail.

“I think getting away from that stereotype – like oh you’re just good because your mom was good – that’s followed me for awhile,” said Rainsberger. “To be able to follow my own path that’s unique to me has been a huge obstacle that I’m still working to overcome.”