Skaneateles cross country coach Jack Reed can sum up Rachel Hosie's talent in two short sentences.

“If anybody ever watches her run, it's just a beautiful sight,” he said. “She just has it.”

Many bystanders had a chance to see the senior in motion this season, winning dual meets and invitationals, placing highly in the league and Section III meets and running all the way to the state meet.

Hosie placed sixth overall in Class C, making her The Citizen's girls cross country runner of the year.

“She's a tremendously gifted runner - quite possibly with the natural born gifts - she might be the best that we've had,” Reed said.

That's saying quite a lot for a Skaneateles runner. The Lakers have won numerous league and sectional titles, plus several state titles. Reed has sent his share of athletes to run in college at the Division I level.

But according to Reed, Hosie may not run in college.

“I think she wants to be a runner, but there's another part of her that isn't as passionate about it,” he said.

If the state meet was her last cross country event, Hosie left her mark in her senior season.

She won five times this year, including a first-place finish at the East Syracuse-Minoa Invitational (18:37.8). Hosie finished second at the OHSL meet and third at the Section III meet.

She finished her career with a sixth-place finish in Class C, running a 20:10.1 at the state meet.

Reed said Hosie has gotten past the anxiety that many runners feel before a race and instead has learned to concentrate on finishing on top. She has learned a valuable skill when it comes to running.

“She's able to play chess during the race now,” Reed said. “She seems to be able to read people before they make a move and she seems to know how to counter the move. Mentally, I think she's as tough as she has ever been.”