During Hagen Reedy's march the past couple of years toward becoming the fastest female cross country runner in Central Section annals, Buchanan High coach Brian Weaver occasionally threw a number at her, a goal, a new standard.

And Reedy typically fired back with something even better.

"I loved that about her," Weaver says of The Bee's repeat girls cross country Runner of the Year.

Today, in review of Reedy's career in the sport -- only track and field is left for the Colorado-bound senior -- the pair agree on this: Her gain came from pain.

"The turning point," Weaver says of a borderline, lower-leg stress fracture to close her sophomore season in cross country.

Remarkably, that year, she still placed second in the section and 27th in the state while virtually "duct-taped together," in the words of Weaver.

More important, Reedy says now, "I learned since how my body worked, what was right for me and what areas of my body and mentality to strengthen.

"I don't know, (the injury) just kind of changed my lifestyle where I became a lot more driven. It kind of lit a fire and I was able to change the negatives into positives. My life kind of revolves around goals."

She hasn't missed many.

This season, she set the section record at Woodward Park's 3.1-mile course -- the official, 25-year section and state venue -- in 16 minutes and 59 seconds while winning the Clovis Invitational Championship Division on Oct. 16.

Only three others in state history have broken 17 minutes -- Simi Valley's Sarah Baxter (16:40, 2012; 16:57, 2010), Santa Rosa's Julia Stamps (16:43, 1996, 16:45, 1995) and Ukiah's Amber Trotter (16:55, 2001).

Even four-time state champion Jordan Hasay of former section affiliate Mission Prep couldn't do it. A two-time NCAA 3,000-meter champion at Oregon, her best was 17:02 in 2005.

Reedy also won a second straight section Division I title (17:11) and placed second in the state (17:10) after winning it as a junior.

In addition, in a single-season consistency of excellence unmatched in section history at Woodward, she also won the Rough Rider Invitational (17:01) and Tri-River Athletic Conference (17:17).

"Breaking 17 (minutes) was my No. 1 goal of the year," says the former accomplished youth dancer and swimmer in the state she was raised, Colorado. "And then to be able to come within seconds of that a few times was pretty shocking to me."

Weaver doesn't go that far, but he applauds the results: "Just goes to show when commitments and sacrifices are made that amazing things can happen."

RUNNER OF THE YEAR: HAGEN REEDY

School: Buchanan

Grade: Senior

She's qualified because: Two-time Bee Runner of the Year became the fastest female cross country runner in Central Section history when she won the Clovis Invitational Championship Division in 16:59 over Woodward Park's 3.1-mile course on Oct. 6. She's one of only four runners in state annals to break 17 minutes at Woodward -- the home course for the state and section. She also defended her section Division I title at 17:11 and placed second in the state at 17:10 after winning it as a junior. In her career, she placed fifth, second and the two firsts in the section final. Next: Colorado of the Pac-12 Conference.