<p>“Katie Skinner, Valedictorian and Times Review Athlete of the Year” (New York)</p>
<p>[Times/Review</a> marks 25 years of athletes of the year awards](<a href=“http://www.riverheadnewsreview.com/news-articles/1009/1009-Times-Review-marks-25-years-of-athletes-of-the-year-awards.html]Times/Review”>http://www.riverheadnewsreview.com/news-articles/1009/1009-Times-Review-marks-25-years-of-athletes-of-the-year-awards.html)</p>
<p>"The story of Katie Skinner contains one remarkable nugget after another. This senior ran most of her high school career with a piece of metal in her foot. A brilliant student, she was the class valedictorian and never received a grade lower than a 98. And, oh yeah, it could be argued that she is the greatest long-distance runner Riverhead has ever produced.</p>
<p>“She puts so much into her work, her work ethic, her practice,” the Riverhead girls winter track coach, Becky Winkel, said. “Everything she does, she does to the best of her ability.” . . .</p>
<p>And she did all of this, remarkably, with a piece of metal that had been discovered in her right foot. Although it is a mystery as to how the metal got there, Skinner believes she had stepped on it when she was a youngster. Following the indoor season, Skinner underwent surgery on the foot, and a large cyst, almost two centimeters long, enveloping the metal piece was removed.</p>
<p>“We were all shocked she was running as well as she had up to that point,” Winkel said. “Either way, she ran some of the best times in the county with something stuck in her foot.” . . . </p>
<p>“She’s a great athlete,” Riverhead’s outdoor track coach, Maria Dounelis, said. “She’s a leader. She’s a hard worker. Kids see that and they want to be like her.”</p>
<p>Winkel said, “She’ll always be remembered and not just for her ability, but for her work ethic, and I’m happy she spread that among the younger athletes coming up.”</p>
<p>Riverhead Athletic Director Bill Groth said, “Katie Skinner is the type of athlete or runner who is extremely unique, and we’ve been fortunate to be blessed with her career here in Riverhead.”</p>
<p>Skinner will run for Princeton University’s cross-country and track teams.</p>