Taking the local cross country scene by storm in 2021 was Clear Lake High School’s Hannah Garrity, who completed her first two high school seasons in the same calendar year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a freshman, Garrity opened quite a few eyes when she ran away from the field in her first high school race in late February (pictured above) at the Six Sigma Ranch and Winery course near Lower Lake. After a stellar freshman year that included no postseason appearance because of the pandemic, Garrity went undefeated in Coastal Mountain Conference action during her sophomore year (fall of 2021). She not only finished first at the conference championships, but second at the North Coast Section Championships and 36th at the CIF State Championships where she was near the top 10 until breathing problems on the final mile slowed her pace. Many Lake County athletes shined in 2021, but no one brighter than Garrity. (Photo by Brian Sumpter)
