Here is the 2021 Providence Journal Girls All-State Cross Country team

Here are the All-State Rhode Island High School Sports Awards first and second teams for Female Cross Country. The First Teamers are all nominees for the Female Cross Country player of the year for the All-State Rhode Island High School Sports Awards to be held in the spring. The winner will be the announced at the show. More details about the program are coming soon.

During the live show, these nominees will be honored, along with the top three finalists and the player of the year. All official nominees can receive a free ticket. Check back later in the year for information on how to RSVP.

The All-State Rhode Island High School Sports Awards, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.

First Team

Reese Fahys

East Greenwich, Junior

After what Fahys did this fall, it’s time to start giving her the credit she deserves as one of the state’s most dominant athletes. The New Jersey transplant came to Rhode Island with lofty expectations in 2020 and didn’t disappoint. This fall she got even better, winning her second straight state title with a time of 17:40.65, over 33 seconds faster than the runner up. Next fall she’ll try to become the fourth girl to win three straight state titles.

More: Here's the 2021 RI Girls Cross Country Coaches All Class, All Division and All State teams

Sophia Gorriaran

Moses Brown, Junior

Gorriaran is known for her world-class middle-distance speeds and sprinting ability. Turns out she’s also terrific with distances as well. For the second straight season the state’s top track athlete had a terrific cross country season. Gorriaran finished third in the state meet as a sophomore and this fall, gave it everything she had chasing East Greenwich’s Reese Fahys before finishing in second place.

Rylee Shunney

East Greenwich, Junior

More people need to know about Shunney, who’s finished in the top five each of her first three years running for the Avenges. Her fifth-place finish as a freshman announced her arrival and her fourth-place finish as a junior showed she was clearly no fluke. This season she proved she was one of the state’s best despite being No. 2 on her own team. Shunney finished in third place in 8:17.35, less than four seconds behind Sophia Gorriaran, and next year she’ll be trying to top that.

Caroline Cummings

La Salle, Junior

A member of La Salle’s All-State 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams as a sophomore, Cummings had a breakthrough season in cross country this fall. Competing in her first RIIL State Championship meet, all the junior did was finish fourth overall behind three returning All-Staters. Cummings returned to run in New Englands the following week and impressed there with her 12th place finish, best among the Rhode Island participants.

Kiley DeFusco

Cumberland, Freshman

You won’t find many debuts as strong as DeFusco’s – in fact, you won’t find any. The lone freshman to make the team this season, she left little doubt about her selection. DeFusco was a force for the Clippers all fall and then, in her state meet debut, went out and had an impressive sixth-place finish. She followed it with a 43rd-place finish at New Englands and should be a harrier to keep an eye on the next three years.

Rory Sullivan

North Kingstown, Sophomore

Two years into her high school cross country career, Sullivan has two first-team All-State selections to her name. Her state debut went splendidly with a sixth-place finish and her second shot against Rhode Island’s best distance runners went better. Sullivan took fifth place – two spots ahead of All-State sister Molly – and was the top finisher for North Kingstown, helping the Skippers win the state team title.

Molly Sullivan

North Kingstown, Senior

The elder of the super Sullivan sisters, Molly Sullivan closes her career out at North Kingstown in the best way possible. Not only did Sullivan have her best career finish at the state championship meet — she took seventh, besting her previous seasons where she finished 17th and 77th — she was also an instrumental piece in the Skippers earning their first team state championship in 15 years.

More: Here's the 2021 RI Girls Cross Country Coaches All Class, All Division and All State teams

Second team

Keaney Bayha, Pilgrim, Freshman

Emmy Belvin, Mount St. Charles, Sophomore

Lily Borin, La Salle, Senior

Caroline Jankowich, Classical, Junior

Eva Mermin, Moses Brown, Sophomore

Lucy Noris, Blackstone Valley Prep, Senior

Ruby Nunnery, North Kingstown, Senior

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Here is the 2021 Providence Journal All-State Girls Cross Country team