Sioux Falls Washington’s Cole Reilly is the 2024-25 Gatorade South Dakota boys cross-country runner of the year. 

Reilly is the second South Dakota boys cross-country runner of the year to be chosen from Washington High School. 

Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the field, in the classroom and in the community. 

The award distinguishes Reilly as South Dakota’s best high school boys cross country athlete. The 5-foot-10, 150-pound sophomore won the Class AA state meet this past season with a time of 15:47.13, breaking the tape just under a second ahead of his next-closest competitor and leading the Warriors to third place as a team. 

Reilly clocked a 5K personal-best of 15:17.42 last fall and took fourth at Minnesota’s Roy Griak Invitational in 16:41.10, representing the state’s top finisher. He also placed 58th at the Nike Cross Heartland Regional Championships. 

Reilly has volunteered locally with Project Warm-Up, which distributes blankets to those in need and at a nursing home. He has also donated his time as a youth basketball coach. 

Reilly has maintained a 3.31 GPA in the classroom. He will begin his junior year of high school this fall.