The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN HS has announced that Rebekah Topham of Griswold High School has been named the 2011-12 Gatorade Iowa Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.  Topham is the first from Griswold to win the honor.  The award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high academic achievement and character.  The 5-foot-7 freshman won the Class 1-A State Individual Championship last cross country season with a time of 13:59 on the four kilometer course, :32 faster than her nearest competitor.  It was the fastet time ever by a freshman at state.  Topham has never lost an in-state race and placed eighth at the 2011 Nike Cross Country Nationals Heartland Regional Championship with a time of 18:30.2.  Topham is home-schooled and carries a 3.26 grade point average and finds time to volunteer for a number of community services projects through her church youth group.  Topham is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Cross Country Runner of the Year award.