Taylor named UP Runner of the Year; McNamara makes Dream Team

By Dan Hardenbrook

The golden age of great runners in Newberry continued this fall. Just weeks after finishing 1st and 2nd at the U.P. Cross Country Finals in Houghton, Newberry’s Abby Taylor and Molly McNamara continue to rake in postseason honors. Taylor was recently selected as the Upper Peninsula Runner of the Year by the Upper Peninsula Cross Country Coaches Association, and she and McNamara landed spots on the group’s All UP Dream Team.

Taylor, a senior at Newberry High School (NHS), didn’t just follow in older sister Sammy’s footsteps. Taylor made her own mark this season. She was nearly perfect, winning almost every race that she entered. Her performances have set records for Newberry, and she consistently broke her own best times in late season races, then took the championship in Houghton.

Taylor wasn’t just “U.P. fast”. She put up finishing times that were among the best in the entire state.

Taylor will suit up this winter for the varsity girls basketball team, before capping off her NHS athletic career this spring on the track.

“It’s an amazing feeling and something that I’m very proud of,” Taylor said of the UP Runner of the Year honor. “It means a lot to have all of the hard work, dedication, and time I’ve put into running recognized. It’s an honor that I don’t take for granted.”

Taylor’s memories of her senior season will last a lifetime. “My favorite part about all of this was seeing how much I improved throughout the years,” she said. “But more importantly, it was the friendships I gained this year and the memories I got to make along the way.”

Teammate Molly McNamara was often the closest competitor Taylor had. McNamara, a sophomore sensation, is next in line on the list of legendary Newberry runners – a list that includes Natalie Beaulieu, Kaylen Clark, and the Taylor sisters.

McNamara was also among the state of Michigan’s elite, posting times that ranked highly among all runners. Her consistency and commitment were recognized by U.P. coaches.

“I think it’s really cool to be a Dream Team runner and I feel like it’s right where I belong,” McNamara said. “My favorite parts of this season were getting to go race downstate at Sheppard [one of the largest annual meets in Michigan] and the day we spent together as a team before finals.”

Coach Carley Challender worked with the pair daily.

“All season long Coach Matt [McNamara] and I joked that we feel like we were getting to coach the Dream Team,” Challender said. “We had a full varsity girls team, which is no small feat for Newberry, and I have seen some amazing mentorship and leadership from our group of seniors. It’s been fun and dynamic with fresh legs coming up through our middle school program and for us to be able to build a program that both our athletes and our community is excited to be a part of again.”