Ryann Krais top girls' track and field athlete

She became a four-time Class AAA state champion in the 300-meter hurdles.

Her time of 58.96 seconds in the 400 hurdles is the fastest in the nation by a high school girl this season. And she single-handedly led Methacton to its first Class AAA girls' state title.

And so Ryann Krais is The Inquirer's Southeastern Pennsylvania girls' track and field athlete of the year for the third consecutive season.

"You can't put into words what she has meant to our track program, District 1 and Methacton High School," Warriors coach Rob Ronzano said. "That's because Methacton is Ryann Krais, and Ryann Krais is Methacton."

That was obvious at last weekend's PIAA track and field championships at Shippensburg University.

In addition to winning the 300 hurdles, Krais won her third consecutive long-jump title as well as the high-jump championship. The senior missed out on an expected gold medal in the 100 hurdles; she fell in the final and was disqualified.

Even with that disappointment, the 30 points she scored gave the Warriors the team championship.

In addition to having that nation's fastest 400 hurdles time, the 18-year-old UCLA signee is the two-time Penn Relays champion in that event.

This season's victory at Franklin Field was not even close. Krais won the event in 59.62 seconds. Cardinal O'Hara's Robyn Oakley, who competed in a non-seeded heat, finished second in 1 minute, 1.43 seconds.

Krais is also one of the nation's top high school competitors in the 100 and 300 hurdles.

She had the nation's fifth-fastest time in the 300 hurdles this season at 41.60 seconds. Her time in the 100 hurdles (13.50) was the sixth-fastest in the country.

More than just a hurdler, she ranked No. 1 in the state in the long jump (19 feet, 2 inches) and high jump (5-8) this season.

"It was an enjoyable year," said the soft-spoken Krais. "I just have been so lucky for all the places that I took. . . . I know I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my teammates."

She isn't just saying that. Krais means it.

Those closest to the all-American say that winning the team state title was not her proudest accomplishment.

"The Wissahickon meet was," Krais said of the Suburban One American Conference dual-meet finale. "We wanted to go undefeated in the league."

And they did, taking a 106-44 victory to finish 8-0 in dual meets.

"It's never been just about me on the team," Krais said. "So it should never be just about me."