PHOTO CREDIT: NATE UNGER
Every August, thousands of freshmen line up for their first varsity cross country meet. A number are just starting the sport. A handful arrive already known - some of them having already competed in the mix with upperclassmen. Here is one from the Class of 2030 whose reputations preceded them into their first high school fall.
Brianna Reilly grew up running in Harrisburg, South Dakota, and arrived for her first varsity practice as a 7th grader. That fall, she won the South Dakota Class AA state individual championship in 17:29.80. Harrisburg won the team title.
She came back for her 8th grade season and did it all again.
Last September, Reilly won the Roy Griak Invitational Championship Division Girls 5000m at the University of Minnesota - a major early-season college meet where Division I programs bring their top returners. She crossed the line in 17:58.40, the only girl in that race under 18 minutes. She followed with her second straight South Dakota Class AA state cross country title, running 16:45.92.
2025 GRIAK CHAMPION
In December, she took 9th at NXN in Portland with 17:24.40 in the Championship 5000m. Somewhere in the mix she also won a USA Triathlon national title and the Brooks PR Junior Mile.
Then there was more on the track. At the South Dakota Class AA state championships, Reilly finished runner-up in both the 1600m and the 3200m. She sits top-5 all-time in South Dakota over both distances.
She entered Harrisburg High School this fall as a state cross country champion, a national champion (having ran 9:41.31 over 3000m and 10:21.44 in the 2 mile at New Balance Outdoor Nationals), top-5 all-time in South Dakota over 1600m and 3200m, and a national name in the middle school distance space.
Just let her stats do the rest of the talking:
- 400m: 1:00.17
- 800m: 2:11.77
- 1500m: 4:25.92
- 1600m: 4:42.87
- 3000m: 9:41.31
- 4K: 13:34.90
- 1 Mile: 4:44.55
- 2 Mile: 10:21.44
- 2.5 Mile: 13:33.02
- 5K: 16:45.92
The season is young. Her name is worth remembering.
