About
Before Riley discovered her passion for running in high school, she stayed active by playing travel soccer for many years, taking dance lessons and in the winter, downhill skiing. Riley is an outgoing, hardworking athlete and fierce competitor who is able to build connections with her fellow competitors, and is quick to share a hug at the finish line. When not running, she loves spending time with her family and friends, and enjoys beach days, baking, scrapbooking and her hedgehog, Otis.
Cross Country 2023
Riley began running on the first day of high school, when she joined the Cross Country team primarily as a means of getting in shape for the upcoming nordic skiing season. She worked hard and learned how to run and how to race, and by the end of the season was placing in varsity races and finished as the fastest freshmen in the Frank Mooney Classic senior race. During the Middlesex League Championship, she placed 2nd overall in the 3k freshmen race. Throughout the season she shaved nearly 3 minutes off her 5k time, earning her the team's Most Improved Athlete award. Success this season planted the seed for her love of running.
Nordic Skiing Winter 2024
In the winter, Riley joined the Nordic Ski Team, and again started from scratch to learn a new sport and how to race strategically. The Winchester girls team had a successful season, qualifying for and competing with the Winchester HS team at All-States in Vermont.
Outdoor Track 2024
Riley returned to running when she joined the team in the spring, choosing to focus on the 1 and 2 mile distance events, hoping to build upon her success from Cross Country in the fall. In the opening league meet, she placed first in the 2 mile race, helping to bolster her confidence in her running. She continued to race well and improve through the spring, shaving more than a minute off of her 2 mile time by the end of the season and earning her the Outdoor Track and Field Team's Most Improved Distance Athlete award. She and three teammates took 1st place in the Henry Sheldon Invitational 4x800 race and qualified for Nike Outdoor Nationals in Oregon, where they competed in the Emerging Elite division placing 18th overall. The members of 4x800 relay team were named to the Boston Globe All-Scholastic.
Cross Country Fall 2024
In her second cross-country season Riley continued to grow as a runner and racer, having early success at league meets, and placing 8th overall in the Girls Varsity Race at Ocean State Invitational. In the Middlesex League Championship Race Riley finished 8th with a a time of 18:47, more than 90 seconds faster than her previous years' PR. The team finished runner-up in the league, and went on to finish 5th place in Division 1B.
Indoor Track Winter 2025
Though Riley had a successful Nordic Skiing season in 2024, she decided to double-down on running and joined the indoor track team sophomore year, focusing on 1- and 2-mile distances. In the 1-mile she achieved a PR every race, eventually placing first in MIAA Division 2 State Championships, followed by a strong fourth place finish at Meet of Champions, and ending the season with a 5:02:03 time in the 1 mile at NBIN. In the 2-mile, she finished first in the MSTCA Freshman/Sophomore Meet (Large School). In relay events, her 4x800 team placed second in the large school division of the MSTCA Coaches Invitational, and then went on to placed fourth in both the MIAA Division 2 Indoor Track & Field Meet and the Meet of Champions before qualifying for NBIN where they set a school record. At NBIN in the Distance Medley Relay, she ran the 1600 anchor leg, helping the team to set another school record. She received the team award for Most Improved Indoor Track distance runner.
Outdoor Track 2025
Riley continued to have success on the track in the spring season, where she achieved an outdoor PR of 5:04.40 in the 1-mile and 11:03.47 in the 2-mile, placing 3rd for both events at the MIAA Division 2 Track and Field Championships. She also ran in the Weston Twilight Invitational, placing ninth overall. Her 4x800 relay team had another great season, finishing second in the MIAA Division 3 Track and Field Championships, qualifying for NBNO where they set a school record and finished first in their heat and 21st overall, with Riley running an individual 800 split and PR of 2:18.60. The DMR relay team also had a terrific season, placing 1st at the MSTCA Division 2 Relays, and then finishing 19th overall at NBNO in Philly in June, setting another school record to round out the season.
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