Exeter’s Gaughan named Gatorade’s New Hampshire Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year for second year in a row

Jackie Gaughan, of Exeter High School, has been named the Gatorade Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year for New Hampshire, the second straight year the senior has won the honor.

Gaughan wrapped up her high school cross country career by winning titles in the Division I meet and the Meet of Champions, as her time of 16:51.20 broke her own record at the MOCs by more than 20 seconds. She also finished sixth at the New England Regionals, third at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional, and fifth at the Foot Locker Nationals.

“After setting an incredibly high standard last year, not only in her state but on a national level, Jackie elevated her performances in several of the season’s biggest meets to achieve even greater success,” said Erik Boal, editor of DyeStat.com. “Her fifth-place finish at Foot Locker Nationals was the best result by a female runner from New Hampshire since Spaulding’s Danyelle Wood placed fourth in 1992.

“That makes Jackie one of only three girls in New Hampshire history to earn Foot Locker First Team All-American honors, along with 1984 national champion Cathy (Schiro) O’Brien of Dover.”

Gaughan joins Oyster River’s Maegan Doody (2013-15) and Hanover’s Heidi Caldwell (2008-09) as the only New Hampshire runners to win the Gatorade Girls Cross Country award more than once.