STUDENT JESSICA TONN NAMED GATORADE ARIZONA GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR

XAVIER COLLEGE PREPARATORY STUDENT JESSICA TONN NAMED GATORADE ARIZONA GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Xavier College Preparatory is pleased to announce that junior Jessica Tonn has been named by The Gatorade Company, in partnership with ESPN RISE Magazine, as its 2008-09 Gatorade Arizona Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year. The award distinguishes Jessica as Arizona’s best high school girls cross country runner.

“Xavier is so proud of Jessica,” said Sister Lynn Winsor, BVM, CMAA, Xavier’s Vice Principal for Activities and Athletics. “She is a fantastically talented athlete, but also dedicated to academics and serving her community. This award recognizes her leadership on and off the court.”

In addition to her cross country achievements, Jessica has maintained a 4.0 GPA, volunteered with the Salvation Army, participated in fundraising for Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and has worked with special needs children.

Jessica was unbeaten against all Arizona competition and raced to the Class 5A Division 1 state championship this past season in 17:50.9, leading the Xavier Gators to the team title. She captured first place at the Doug Conley and George Young invitational meets and was outstanding on the national stage. She finished fourth at the Foot Locker West Regional and second at the Nike Cross Nationals Southwest Regional, then capped her season with a tenth place showing at the national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships.

“Jessica just keeps getting better,” said Xavier Head Coach Dave Van Sickle. “She has the desire and a good plan – but it takes more than that to make a champion. She’s also a fierce competitor who takes care of her body and doesn’t flinch at doing a great deal of work.”

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field. RISE partners with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.