DLN ALL-AREA: Henderson freshman Mulhern sprints straight to the top

It’s a rare talent that wins a Pennsylvania state championship, in any sport. 

It’s even more rare when that state championship comes from a freshman. 

Henderson freshman Jenna Mulhern is one of those rare talents. After picking up Ches-Mont League and District 1 crowns, Mulhern became the first freshman to win the PIAA Class 3A championship since Pennsbury’s Sara Sargent in 2009, and the first girl for Henderson to win a state title since Kim Saddic in 1987. 

For those reasons, Jenna Mulhern is the Daily Local News 2018 Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.

“I’m very grateful for my amazing teammates and coaches that supported me all year,” said Mulhern. “And I look forward to the next three years of high school.” 

Though Mulhern comes from an athletic family — her sister, a senior at Henderson, is a Warriors swimmer, and brother Nate is a junior on the Henderson football team — Jenna is the only runner. Her parents, Anne and Patrick, aren’t runners either. 

A swimmer from a young age, Mulhern didn’t begin to run competitively until seventh grade, doing so mostly as a way to cross-train for swimming.

“But it didn’t take too long for her to become totally hooked,” said her mother.

Running a personal best 17:41 in winning the district meet, Mulhern picked up steam as the year ran on, and became the first Henderson girl ever to qualify for the National Cross Country meet, where she finished in 44th place. 

“Jenna worked hard and improved throughout the season,” said Warriors coach Kevin Kelly.  “She did a nice job of following directions tactically throughout the season.” 

For all her accolades and accomplishments this season, Mulhern will remember being a part of a team as one of the most special times of the season. 

“My favorite memory in cross country is actually just being with my teammates at the girls cross country camp,” said Mulhern. 

Still just 14, the thought of college is still way far in the future.

“But I’m sure that when the time comes,” said Mulhern. “I hope to be running in college.”