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Kristen Ballinger CLASS of 2007 Track and Cross-country ATHLETE |
| With uncommon grace, Kristen was a dominant middle distance runner in the state. As a senior, she won the 4A state 400 meters title in 55.54 seconds, and finished second in the 800. The previous year, Kristen was a member of the state championship 4x400 relay squad. She also won regional and district titles and earned "All-Big 9" recognition in track several times.
Kristen also starred in cross-country while placing as high as ninth in the state meet. Throughout four years, she was among the best Big 9 Conference harriers with first, second, third and fifth place finishes at districts. Kristen also placed from second to eighth each year at regionals. She earned a total of eight varsity letters and was a two-time finalist for "NCW Sports Awards High School Female Athlete-of-the-Year". Kristen began her collegiate career at Amherst in Massachusetts where she set a 800 meters school record while winning the ECAC championship and finishing sixth at the NCAA-III National Championships. Her sophomore year, Kristen transferred to Whitman and became the school's best all-time female cross-country runner while gaining three berths in the NCAA-III National Championships. She was a finalist for "NCW Sports Awards College Female Athlete-of-the-Year" in 2008. - Caricatures of inductees as they appeared while involved in WHS athletics and the synopsis of accomplishments are drawn and written by Jeff Mertes.
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