December
Top Moment
Date: Dec. 14th, Foot Locker Nationals
Breakdown: Elizabeth Leachman made history at Foot Locker Nationals, becoming the first athlete since Claudia Lane in 2016 and 2017 to win back-to-back titles. Leachman crossed the finish line in 17:31.1, holding off a strong challenge from Victoria Garces and Zariel Macchia, who were both in the hunt for the top spot. After trailing early in the race, Leachman surged ahead around the 1.5-mile mark, never looking back as she powered to victory.
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Best of the Rest
December 7th:
Jane Hedengren (Timpview, U.T.) set a new course record at Nike Cross Nationals, clocking 16:32.7 to win the individual title. The senior, who will attend Brigham Young University next fall, missed last year's race due to injury but came back strong with an undefeated 5K season. Her performance broke the previous record of 16:37.8, held by Katelyn Tuohy since 2018, by over five seconds. Hedengren took the lead early and extended it throughout the race, finishing 40 seconds ahead of the competition. Continue reading...
Charlie Vause of Rio Rancho High School (N.M.) made an impressive comeback at Nike Cross Nationals after finishing third at the Southwest Regionals. In a tightly packed race at the 4K mark, Vause was positioned at the back of a six-athlete breakaway. However, over the final 1,000 meters, he surged ahead, moving up five spots to claim the lead and win the Nike Cross Nationals individual championship with a time of 15:28.1. Continue reading...
Mountain Vista High School from Denver (C.O.) made history by claiming their first national cross country team title with a 75-point performance at Nike Cross Nationals. The team's top-five finishers included senior Keeghan Edwards, who placed fourth in 17:15.2, followed by Juliet Frum (27th, 17:53.9), Claire Guiberson (32nd, 17:57.5), Peyton Adams (48th, 18:24.6), and Brenna Jorde (89th, 18:58.6). Their strong pack, led by Edwards, Frum, and Guiberson, and a top-five split of 1:43, was too much for the competition to overcome. Continue reading...
Just two weeks after their loss to Herriman at the Southwest Regional, the Niwot (Colo.) boys triumphed at Nike Cross Nationals, capturing the championship trophy. Battling rain, mud, and a highly competitive field, including top-ranked teams like Christian Brothers Academy (NJ) and Herriman (UT), Niwot held their pack tight with a 31-second split and an average time of 16:04, totaling 70 points. Junior Hunter Robbie led the way in 21st with a time of 15:52.7, followed by senior Keegan Geldean in 27th (15:57.8), sophomore Quinn Sullivan in 30th (16:00.9), junior Gabriel Marshall in 35th (16:04.7), and senior Gavin Engtrakul in 67th (16:24.3). With five of their top seven returning for 2025, Niwot is poised for another strong season. Continue reading...
Junior Gabbie Bishop of Providence Academy (AR), the Arkansas state champion, ran a lifetime-best 5K PR of 16:55.64 to win the RunningLane Championships. Bishop surged in the final 800 meters to hold off senior Ava Jarrell, who finished just shy of the win in 16:59.01. Continue reading...
Denton Guyer freshman phenom Ruel Newberry delivered a performance for the ages at the RunningLane Championships, staying with the front pack throughout the race before breaking away with just over 1,000 meters to go. Newberry never looked back, crossing the finish line in an astounding 14:46.07-the fastest winning time at the meet since 2021. This victory marked Newberry's first National Title in his debut at the high school level and his first win in nearly two months. He ends his season as the number one ranked freshman nationally, cementing his place as one of the most exciting young talents in the sport. Continue reading...
December 14th:
At Foot Locker Nationals, Tamrat Gavenas, the top returner from last year's meet, delivered a stunning performance to claim his first national title. After staying with the lead pack through the first two miles, Gavenas surged ahead after the 2.5-mile mark, crossing the finish line in 15:23.9. The race began with Ben Crane and Jack Graffeo setting a fast pace, leading the field through the first mile. By the 2-mile mark, six runners were within four seconds of each other, but Gavenas made his decisive move, surging up the final hill to pass the remaining contenders. Continue reading...