Rossview's Sara Martin overcomes injury to claim All Area Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year
Sara Martin isn't going to look back at her high school career and think "what if."
What Martin will look back on will be the two straight Region 5 cross country team championships her Rossview Lady Hawks were able to put togethers, including this past fall.
"When all of us seniors come back in 20 years and see those banners hanging from the rafters in the gym, that's what we'll remember," Martin said.
Although Martin has suffered injuries that limited her junior and senior years at Rossview, she leaves as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners in school history. Martin has been named The Leaf-Chronicle All Area Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.
In Martin's four-year career at Rossview her teams have captured two region runner-up finishes and the past two region titles.
"Obviously dealing with a calf injury was not ideal for my senior year," the Austin Peay signee said. "But injuries happen. Our coaches really pushed me to push past it, and our freshmen and sophomores really stepped up because a lot of the upperclassmen had injuries."
In a repeat of the 2016 region meet, Rossview saw all seven of its runners finish among the top 20, advancing to state for the fourth straight year.
"It was the perfect ending to a high school career for me," Martin said.
Reach Prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.
THE LEAF-CHRONICLE ALL AREA GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Gabby Kowalski
Rossview, So.
Why chosen: Kowalski's average time was 22:26 this season, and she won the Dickson County Invitational. She finished 11th at the region meet.
Greta Kowalski
Rossview, Sr.
Why chosen: Kowalski had an average career time of 23:02 and is a two-time region champ team member. She took 12th at the region meet.
Sara Martin
Rossview, Sr.
Why chosen: Martin's average career time is 21:30. She has the second-most times under 22 minutes in school history and finished the region meet in fifth place and the state Large Class meet in 73rd.
A’siara Nakasone
Northeast, Sr.
Why chosen: Nakasone's top time was 21:46. She placed third at the Montgomery County Championship, fourth at Rossview and 28th at region.
Samantha Rosencrants
Rossview, Fr.
Why chosen: Rosencrants' average time was 21:51. She recorded seven times under 22 minutes and was the team's No. 2 runner. She finished eighth at region.
SECOND TEAM
Hunter Farrell, Clarksville Academy, Sr.
Amanda Herrera, Rossview, Jr.
Isabella Maynard, Northeast, So.
Sydney Overdeer, Clarksville High, Jr.
Sara Salyer, Clarksville High, Fr.