A high school senior from Cornwall’s Varsity girls’ cross country team won the national championships today.
Karrie Baloga, a New Windsor resident attending Cornwall Central High School, will head to the University of Colorado next year, won the Champs Sports National Girls’ Cross Country Championships in San Diego, California.
Baloga clinched first place in the girls’ 5K race with a time of 16:49.2 while facing heavy competition from the top cross country athletes from across the country. She made the win look easy, edging second place runner-up Ellie Shea from Massachusetts, who finished with a time of 16:55.1. They were the only two girls to finish with a time under 17 minutes.
Last month, Baloga won the New York State Class B championship title.
Bologa was named the 2021-2022 Gatorade New York Girls Cross Country Player of the Year. She was the second Gatorade player of the year to be chosen from the Cornwall High School.
Last season, the 5’7″ star clinched fourth place at the national Eastbay Cross Country Championships and earned All-American honors in the process. She also won the New York Federation Championship, and broke the tape at last year’s Section 9 championships, the Six Flags Wild Safari Invitational, and the Eastern State Championship race.
“Karrie is one of those athletes a coach may have once or twice in a career,” said Cornwall Central High School coach Dave Feuer. “I first started coaching her in eighth grade and immediately saw that I was working with someone years ahead of her actual age as far as work ethic and the will to win.”
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus stated, “Karrie has had a wonderful career at Cornwall, serving as a role-model to her peers and a true sportswomen. I wish Karrie, who will attend the University of Colorado next year, the best in the future.”
Baloga has maintained an A average in the classroom.
