2024 Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year: Owen Reece

***ICYMI: Girls Tennis Co-Player of the Year: Sophia Catino***

***ICYMI: Girls Tennis Co-Player of the Year: Hanna Davis***

***ICYMI: Girls Golfer of the Year: Ellie Hildreth***

Now that most of the fall sports season has come to a close, it’s time to reveal the All-Coastal Preps teams. Over the next week, you will get to know more about the players of the year while also seeing who made first and second team in girls tennis, girls golf, boys and girls cross country, boys soccer and volleyball.

The Coastal Preps Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year is junior Owen Reece from Topsail.

Owen’s Accomplishments

As the season went on, Owen Reece’s times dropped. The Topsail standout was at his best when it mattered the most.

Reece had plenty of success during the regular season, but he found another gear once the postseason arrived. 

At the 4A East Regional, Reece placed second out of 163 runners with a time of 15:44.96. A week later at the 4A State Championship, his time of 15:41.69 was good enough for eighth out of 174 participants. Reece was the top area finisher at both meets. 

Reece broke the school record at the Mideastern Conference Championship at Long Leaf Park by crossing the finish line in second place with a time of 15:31.20.

He was third out of 327 runners at the prestigious Adidas Challenge in Cary in September. 

More about Owen

Favorite Restaurant(s): Coastal Wings

Favorite Movie(s): Top Gun

Favorite TV Show(s): Don’t watch any

Favorite Athlete(s): Jakob Ingebrigtsen

Favorite memory from this season: Long runs toward the end of the season.

Favorite memory from your career: Going to Mondo Invitational sophomore year. Me and my friends went unattached and it was a really fun trip.

Favorite thing about your school or team: Everyone always supports each other.

What app on your phone do you use the most?: Instagram

Where is one place you’ve never been that you’d like to visit?: Germany

Are you a planner or do you go with the flow?: I’m a planner with running. Anything else, I go with the flow.

Would you rather be able to breathe underwater or fly?: Fly. It would be more fun and useful.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?: On race day, rely on your training because if you work hard enough, success will always come.

What are 3 things you are grateful for in your life?: Friends, family, and being able to run.

If you are hungry for pizza, where are you ordering it from?: I actually don’t like pizza.

Do you prefer to shop online or in person?: I prefer to shop online because it has a greater variety.

Have you lived in the same house your entire life? If not, how many houses have you lived in?: Yes, I have.

What is one thing you want people to know about you besides being a great athlete?: More of something I have learned. Hard work always leads to success. You just have to be willing to consistently put the work in.