COROS Distance Runner Of The Year Goes To Elizabeth Leachman

* Elizabeth Leachman during the 3,200m at the UIL Outdoor Track and Field Championships

- - -

Two outdoor national records and two state titles led Elizabeth Leachman toward a historic year in 2024. 

It's hard to overlook what the Boerne Champion sophomore did over the outdoor season, as the sophomore broke her first national record to kick off the year in February, knocked another off her belt in March and followed with 1,600m and 3,200m state titles in May.

Her season didn't end there, as she competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June in the women's 5,000 meters. 

All that being said, Leachman's successful campaign earned her the honor of being named this year's COROS Distance Runner of the Year. 

* Elizabeth Leachman reflects on breaking the national high school record in the 5K at Texas Relays

- - -

Very few high school athletes can say they've shattered national high school records over their careers. But in just the third outdoor 3,200m of the 2024 season, Leachman broke Katelyn Tuohy's national high school record by over four seconds. Leachman crossed the finish line in 9:43.74 and was the first girl to dip under 9:45 in this event in high school history.

Three weeks later, she found herself competing at Texas Relays in the 5K under the lights against a collegiate field. The pattern continued. 

Not only did she take down the field by roughly 35 seconds, but Leachman claimed a new outdoor national record in 15:25.27. Once again, she made history by surpassing former Flower Mound standout Natalie Cook, who recorded a time of 15:25.93 to win the Stanford Invitational in 2022. 

In June, Leachman was fourth overall in the girls 2-mile at the Brooks PR Invitational, clocking a time of 9:52.30 -- her 3,200m national record, meanwhile, was downed by Allie Zealand en route to the Virginia athlete's 2-mile outdoor national record of 9:41.76. Zealand's 9:38.41 for 3,200m currently stands as the fastest time recorded by a high school girl at the distance; Leachman's 9:52.30 2-mile is now eighth all-time. 

* At the U.S. Olympic Trials, Elizabeth Leachman finished 26th in the 5K with a 16:36.67

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee/USA Today

- - -

Just when you thought her season couldn't get any better, she had an opportunity to compete in Hayward Field for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 5K. The expectations were light, experience the main attraction here.  

As the only high school athlete in the field, Leachman finished her heat in 16:36.67.

Along with breaking national records, Leachman earned her second and third Texas state titles. She went 4:41.36 for the 1,600m and 10:11.40 in the 3,200m, while she finished fifth in the 800m with a 2:11.73.  

Looking ahead to the fall, Leachman is the fastest returner in cross country as she went 16:07.60 for 5,000 meters at the NXR South Regional.

A year ago she finished 15th at Nike Cross Nationals before she claimed a Foot Locker Nationals the next weekend. 

* Elizabeth Leachman becomes victorious at the UIL Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 1,600m