Sielle Kearney, Traverse City Central (Michigan)
If you didn't know who Kearney was before this season, you likely saw what she did in August. She posted a stellar effort of 16:54.80 in the 5K at the Benzie Pete Moss Invitational. But there were signs that Kearney was headed for success long before. This past spring, Kearney remarkably finished fifth in the girls 1600m at the Michigan High School State Athletic Association -- remarkable in that she finished fifth with a time of 4:53.92, which was a new PR and a top 100 time nationally.
In most other states, anything close to Kearney's new best would have landed her on the podium. But in Michigan, a state known for its distance runners, she was buried behind runners like Anne Forsyth, Karenna Duffey, Anna Jensen, and Gabby Hentemann. It was more of the same in the 3200m, in which Kearney finished eighth in 10:42.91. She's a three-time qualifier of the MHSAA cross country championships and finished fifth, fourth, and seventh in consecutive years.