MDRUNNERS.COM 2006 All-State Selections [Complete]

Girls
First Team
FIRST-TEAM ALL STATERunner of the Year"Runner-Up" of the YearNo. 3No. 4No. 5No. 6No. 7
Athlete
Alison Smith, Senior
Atholton
Kristen Malloy, Sophomore
Hereford
Marika Walker, Senior
Eleanor Roosevelt
Katie Hursey, Senior
North Carroll
Morgane Gay, Junior
Walt Whitman
Elizabeth McCarter, Senior
Mount Hebron
Cara Harrison, Senior
Quince Orchard

Girls Runner of the Year 2006
Alison Smith, Senior
Atholton
Championships: Howard County -- #1 | 2A South -- #1 | 2A State -- #1
Four years of racing, although at times plagued by injury and circumstance, adds Atholton senior Alison Smith's name to a list of the best runners ever to race in Maryland. As she ends a high school racing career that can easily be compared to that of Broadneck's Lauren Centrowitz, she leaves with 10 championship titles - among them 4 Howard County titles, 3 Region 2A-East titles and 3 2A-State titles. Alison Smith ran to the front of the pack as a sophomore and never let go.

Smith began her senior season with an entry in the Howard County Invitational, but she was unable to finish that race due to an injury that would take her out for a large portion of the season. Recognition of Alison Smith slid to a halt, just as sophomore Kristen Malloy (Hereford, 'Runner-Up' of the Year) was running unbelievable races, including a performance at Bull Run that only implied Malloy to be unbeatable in the state. After a transition race at the Run From the Lion's Den, Alison Smith returned to attention with a totally unexpected performance at the Manhattan Invitational, beating Eleanor Roosevelt's top two girls Marika Walker and Teshika Rivers, who at the time were ranked second and fourth in the state.

She confirmed her return as one of the state's best with strong wins at county and region championships, leaving no doubt that the athlete was more prepared for the state meet than she had ever been. Fate would have it that the reigning 2A champion would have to face the state's top ranked athlete in order to grab the title one last time - Kristen Malloy. Going into the race opinion was split on who would take the race - Alison Smith had her impeccable championship record and experience, while Malloy had the course record and home course advantage. Whether Kristen Malloy just had a bad day, or Alison Smith just too strong, Smith took the race.