It's a pretty simple choice among girl athletes for the 2008-2009 school year as the Mission Prep of San Luis Obispo phenom joins select company as multiple winner of the state's most prestigious individual end-of-school-year honor. Read below for reactions to her final race at the CIF State Meet and for all-time girls state athlete of the year honor roll.     

By Harold Abend, Special to CalHiSports.com

To say big things come in small packages is quite often a cliché. When it comes to Jordan Hasay, acclaimed by many running experts as one of the greatest middle distance female prep runners in the nation's history, she's also the complete package.
 
As Hasay ran all alone in the 3,200 at the 2009 CIF State Meet in Clovis, over a quarter lap in front of her nearest competitor, the emotions of the crowd began to swell.
 
"It was a very special moment the way the crowd reacted,” Hasay's father, Joe, told CalHiSports.com on the morning of July 3 while waiting for his daughter to return later in the day from the U.S. Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

When the bell rang signifying the final lap at Buchanan High, the 10,000 strong rose to their feet in unison, each and every one; be they black, white, brown, yellow or red, they all were cheering on and clapping for the powerful, yet diminutive 5-foot-2 Hasay as she put the finishing touches as on her unprecedented fourth consecutive state 3,200 title.
 
For her mid-blowing dominance at various cross country and track meets over the past four years, Hasay today has been named the 2008-09 CalHiSports.com State Girls Athlete of the Year. Also last year's recipient, Hasay joins a distinguished group of female multiple honorees that includes Maureen Connolly (tennis), Debby Meyer (swimming), Janet Evans (swimming) and Marion Jones (track), among others.          

Although Hasay's time of 10 minutes, 5.29 seconds was well off her winning time of 9:52.13 last year, where she was pushed by Davis' Laurynne Chetelat (9:52.51). Her wining time was the fastest time in the nation this year and over 18-seconds ahead of the second place finisher.
 
The victory in Clovis was the capper of a high school career in which the Mission Prep of San Luis Obispo standout and Arroyo Grande resident has won just about every race she's ran, be it in track or cross country.

Besides the four state titles, she's also won the prestigious Mt. Sac Invitational cross country meet four times as well.
 
Last year at the 61st Mt. Sac, Hasay's winning time of 16 minutes, 27 seconds made her the Individual Sweeps Champion, with a time 21 seconds faster than her nearest competitor.
 
It was also the second fastest time ever for a girl on the challenging 3-mile course, one of the most famous in cross country.
 
Amongst her many accomplishments, Jordan is also one of the few high school athletes to compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Last summer, she went to the University of Oregon's Hayward Field basically as a spectator with her family. Then after someone withdrew from the 1500, USA Track and Field invited her to compete.
 
Not only did she compete, but she finished fifth in her Independence Day semi and set a national high school record of 4 minutes 14.50 seconds to qualify for the final.
 
This year, after once again winning the Golden West Invitational held just after the State Meet, Jordan went to Eugene again. She ran in the senior race for the second time and unfortunately didn't have one of her better races.
 
A bit discouraged by her 20th place finish on June 26, the University of Oregon-bound Hasay told the Oregonian she was finished until the cross country college season begins this upcoming fall.
 
Even so, she stuck around to watch the 5,000 the next day, and after talking to her family, Hasay decided to run in the June 27 junior 1,500 and won for the third time, blitzing the field in the process.
 
"We talked and I decided I wanted to have some fun and go out a winner” Hasay told CalHiSports.com when we finally caught up to her (if that's possible) this past weekend.
 
With the junior 1,500 victory in hand, Jordan changed her plans and will travel with her family on July 28 to Trinidad for the Pan Am Games.
 
Hasay's awards and honors are so numerous she even has her own Wikipedia page maintained by fans she doesn't know that track her every achievement.
 
"From the get-go, Jordan's been very talented,” said DyeStatCal.com Associate Editor Rich Gonzalez.
 
"She's driven to achieve, talks about records and has the focus to go along with mental and physical strength," Gonzalez continued. "Plus she has tremendous heart and is the ultimate hard worker.”
 
With respect to her place amongst the all-time prep greats, Gonzalez had this to say:
 
"The stop watch doesn't lie and with her times she's built a pretty good case for herself. Besides the record in the 1,500 and the two national titles in cross country, her consistency is pretty incredible. Jordan is the best we've seen in a long time.”
 
With all her work on the track, and the hills and dales of cross country, one might think Hasay doesn't have time for other things. In fact, throughout her high school career it's been the exact opposite.
 
When CalHiSports.com interviewed Jordan last October after she won Mt. Sac and was named the ESPN RISE National Athlete of the Week, and the ESPN RISE CalHiSports.com State Girls Athlete of the Week, she told us she was carrying a 4.53 GPA.
 
Hasay said she was also involved in youth group activities, assisting the elderly, charity fund-raising and helping feed the hungry in the "people's kitchen,” all at her local parish. She also found time to tutor other students and work with the Special Olympics.

She ended up as Mission Prep's valedictorian after finishing with a 4.56 GPA. Hasay will move on to Oregon where she plans on studying physiology and kinesiology.
 
"It was really an honor and fun to do the valedictorian speech,” Hasay remarked.
 
Following the Pan Am games, Hasay will return home to begin preparation for the college cross country season, and plans on moving to Eugene in the beginning of September with school starting later that month.
 
"Right now I have no huge, major goals other than to have a smooth transition and do well in cross country with no injuries,” she said.
 
"For cross country, I'll focus on the small stuff and then step up training when the track season begins.”
 
And what about taking down almost all the individual awards handed out each year by the various media?
 
"It's a bit overwhelming at times, but it's also kind of a really nice way to wrap up my high school career. Plus, it gives me an opportunity to thank all my coaches, my family and friends that have helped me and supported me over the past four years.”
 
"Besides being one of the best I've ever seen, Jordan is a delightful young woman who is sincere and genuine with other people,” said ESPN RISE CalHiSports.com and Dyestat.com contributor Steve Brand, who has attended every State Meet since the early 1970s and is one of California's most astute prep track scribes.
 
Jordan Hasay, one of prep track and cross country's all-time greats, is a charming, humble young woman who won't even turn 18 until she enters college as California's Girls Athlete of the Year. Congratulations to Jordan and her family from CalHiSports.com.

ALL-TIME GIRLS STATE
ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
(Selected by Cal-Hi Sports)

2008-09 - Jordan Hasay, San Luis Obispo Mission Prep (track) Sr.
2007-08 - Jordan Hasay, San Luis Obispo Mission Prep (track) Jr.
2006-07 - Alix Klineman, Manhattan Beach Mira Costa (volleyball)
2005-06 - Jayne Appel, Concord Carondelet (water polo, basketball)
2004-05 - Jessica Hardy, Long Beach Wilson (swimming)
2003-04 - Candice Wiggins, La Jolla Country Day (volleyball, basketball)
2002-03 - Alyson Felix, North Hills L.A. Baptist (track)
2001-02 - Julia Pitts, Torrance North (volleyball, basketball, track)
2000-01 - Lashinda Demus, Long Beach Wilson (track)
1999-00 - Monique Henderson, San Diego Morse (track) Jr.
1998-99 - Rometra Craig, San Jose Mitty (basketball, tae kwon do, track) Jr.
1997-98 - Amanda Freed, Garden Grove Pacifica (volleyball, soccer, baseball)
1996-97 - Tayyiba Haneef, Laguna Hills  (volleyball, basketball, track)
1995-96 - Kerri Walsh, San Jose Mitty  (volleyball, basketball)
1994-95 - Marcy Crouch, Huntington Beach Marina (soccer, softball)
1993-94 - Suzy Powell, Modesto Downey (basketball, track)
1992-93 - Marion Jones, Thousand Oaks (basketball, track)
1991-92 - Marion Jones, Thousand Oaks  (basketball, track) Jr.
1990-91 - Marion Jones, Oxnard Rio Mesa (basketball, track) Soph.
1989-90 - Lisa Leslie, Inglewood Morningside (basketball, track)
1988-89 - Janet Evans, Placentia El Dorado (swimming)
1987-88 - Janet Evans, Placentia El Dorado (swimming) Jr.
1986-87 - Michele Granger, Placentia Valencia (softball)
1985-86 - Terri Mann, San Diego Point Loma (basketball, track)
1984-85 - Elaina Oden, Irvine (volleyball, track)
1983-84 - Wendy Brown, Woodside  (basketball, track)
1982-83 - Wendy Wyland, Mission Viejo (diving)
1981-82 - Denean Howard, Granada Hills Kennedy (track)
1980-81 - Cheryl Miller, Riverside Polytechnic  (basketball)
1979-80 - Sherri Howard, Granada Hills Kennedy (track)
1978-79 - Cynthia Woodhead, Riverside Polytechnic (swimming)
1977-78 - Tracy Austin, Rolling Hills (tennis)
1976-77 - Linda Fratianne, Van Nuys Valley Professional (figure skating)
1975-76 - Jill Sterkel, Hacienda Heights Wilson (swimming)
1974-75 - Barbara Reinalda, Cerritos Valley Christian (basketball, softball)
1973-74 - Mary Decker, Orange (track)
1972-73 - Keena Rothhammer, Santa Clara (swimming)
1971-72 - Mable Fergerson, Pomona Ganesha (track)
1970-71 - Laura Baugh, Long Beach Wilson (golf)
1969-70 - Cathy Rigby, Los Alamitos (gymnastics)
1968-69 - Debbie Meyer, Sacramento Rio Americano (swimming)
1967-68 - Debbie Meyer, Sacramento Rio Americano (swimming)
1966-67 - Debbie Meyer, Sacramento Rio Americano (swimming)
1965-66 - Charlotte Cooke, Compton (track)
1964-65 - Peggy Fleming, Pasadena (figure skating)
1963-64 - Sharon Stouder, Glendora (swimming)
1962-63 - Donna de Varona, Santa Clara (swimming)
1961-62 - Carolyn House, Los Angeles Marshall (swimming)
1960-61 - Billie Jean Moffitt, Long Beach Poly (tennis)
1959-60 - Chris von Saltza, Los Gatos (swimming)
1958-59 - Karen Hantze, San Diego Mission Bay (tennis)
1957-58 - Sylvia Ruuska, Berkeley (swimming)
1956-57 - Barbara Ann Roles, Arcadia (figure skating)
1955-56 - Mimi Arnold, Redwood City Sequoia (tennis)
1954-55 - Mimi Arnold, Redwood City Sequoia (tennis)
1953-54 - Carol Tait, Atherton Menlo-Atherton (swimming)
1952-53 - Barbara Stark, Lafayette Acalanes (swimming)
1951-52 - Paula Jean Myers, Covina (diving)
1950-51 - Maureen Connolly, San Diego Cathedral (tennis)
1949-50 - Maureen Connolly, San Diego Cathedral (tennis)
1948-49 - Marlene Bauer, L.A. unknown (golf)
1947-48 - Zoe Ann Olsen, Oakland (diving)
1946-47 - Zoe Ann Olsen, Oakland (diving)
1945-46 - Zoe Ann Olsen, Oakland (diving)
1944-45 - Nancy Chaffee, Ventura (tennis)
1943-44 - Jean Doyle, San Diego Point Loma (tennis)
1942-43 - Ann Curtis, S.F. Washington (swimming)
1941-42 - Ann Curtis, S.F. Washington (swimming)
1940-41 - Ann Curtis, S.F. Washington (swimming)
1939-40 - Margorie Gestring, Los Angeles (diving)
1938-39 - Esther Williams, L.A. Washington (swimming)
1937-38 - Margorie Gestring, Los Angeles (diving)
1936-37 - Margorie Gestring, Los Angeles (diving)
1935-36 - Peggy Graham, Beverly Hills (golf)
1934-35 - Margaret Osborne, S.F. Commerce (tennis)
1933-34 - Florence Chadwick, San Diego Hoover (rough water swimming)
1932-33 - Dorothy Poynton, L.A. Fairfax (diving)
1931-32 - Evelyn Furtsch, Tustin (track)
1930-31 - Alice Marble, S.F. Polytechnic (tennis)
1929-30 - Georgia Coleman, L.A. Polytechnic (diving)
1928-29 - Gloria Russell, Berkeley (track)
1927-28 - Georgia Coleman, L.A. Polytechnic (diving)
1926-27 - Georgia Coleman, L.A. Polytechnic (diving)
1925-26 - Helen Jacobs, Berkeley Miss Anna Head's School (tennis)
1924-25 - Eleanor Garatti, San Rafael (swimming)
1923-24 - Helen Jacobs, Berkeley (tennis)
1922-23 - Helen Wills, Berkeley Miss Anna Head's School (tennis)
1921-22 - Helen Wills, Berkeley unknown (tennis)
1920-21 - Helen Wills, Berkeley unknown (tennis)
1919-20 - Helen Wills, Berkeley unknown (tennis)

Note: All selections prior to 1978-79 done retroactively through research by our founder, the late Nelson Tennis.

For comments or corrections, email mark@studentsports.com and be sure to leave comments for others to read.