Catholic's Ellie Gonzalez wins IAAM cross country championship in record time

It may be difficult to believe now, but Ellie Gonzalez joined a summer running program prior to her freshman year at Catholic High because, according to coach Cathy Kearns, "she was a little out of shape."

A year later, Gonzalez is not only in great shape, she's the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland cross country champion after her time of 17 minutes, 59 seconds Wednesday on the 3.1-mile Oregon Ridge Park course shattered the six-year-old meet record by 31 seconds.

Gonzalez, who runs in the C Conference for the Cubs, finished 1:30 ahead of runner-up Holly Cook, a senior from John Carroll and the A Conference's top finisher.

"I just have never seen anyone who runs the way she does, honestly," Kearns said of Gonzalez. "The intensity is always there."

Not lacking confidence, Gonzalez said winning the race was pretty much a sure thing.

"I like to go out fast, and I knew it was going to be my race," she said. "And no one was going to be close to me. So I might as well [start fast]."

Gonzalez placed second in last year's IAAM meet behind McDonogh senior Madeline Dulac.

Gonzalez, the reigning 1,600 and 3,200 outdoor and 800 indoor champ, said she's learned how to run at the front of the pack.

"Last year I mostly followed," she said. "I am better at leading now. I know what to do."

Archbishop Spalding won the A Conference team title, as seven Cavaliers placed in the top 25. Caitlin Anson (fifth, 20:02) led the group, followed by, Cara McNellis (eighth, 20:26), Erin Beherns (ninth, 20:30), Caitlyn McGuinness (10th, 20:33), Emily Chaundy (13th, 20:43), Molly Miller (18th, 20:57) and Elisa Heacock (21st, 21:05).

It was the Spalding's first team title since joining the A Conference in 2000.

"We were five or six points behind [winner] McDonogh last year," Spalding coach Mike Calderone said. "We have always good team and we have always been on the rise. It culminated with this."

Glenelg Country School's Hannah Mansbach (third, 19:48), Mount de Sales' Jessica Harris (fourth, 20:00), Notre Dame Prep's Summer Legambi (sixth, 20:07) and St. Mary's Mary Reiser (seventh, 20:15)  rounded out the top 10.