RYAN HARROP

Polson’s Ryan Harrop has been running strong all season for the Pirates. The sophomore took third place at the Western A Fall Classic in Polson two weeks ago. This past weekend, Harrop placed sixth in the State Class A cross country championship. Her time of 19:36 was one of her fastest of the year, and coach Matt Seeley said it was her best race of the year. In an email, he said, “Ryan is proving that she is at her best in the big meets at the end of the year.”

Her sixth place finish earned her an All-State nod. Being All-State as a sophomore is impressive, but even more impressive is the fact that this isn’t the first time she’s earn it. As a freshman, Harrop took seventh place at the state meet. That also earned her an All-State selection, as the top 15 individuals at the state meet qualify. Along with improving upon her placement from last year, Harrop also helped lead her team to a fourth place finish overall. The Polson girls cross country team has been consistently competing for team wins all season, including a first place finish at the Highlander Invitational in Spokane in September. Harrop’s classmate, Malia Seeley, and freshman Molly Sitter have both been within seconds of the two-time All-State runner, either ahead or behind. All three had great seasons, and Malia Seeley also earned All-State this year.