The 5-foot-5 senior raced to the individual state championship this past season with a time of 17:53.9, leading the Greyhounds to the state title as a team. Welch also won the Foot Locker Midwest Regional championships in 17:34 and finished 17th nationall
Welch has maintained a 4.19 GPA in the classroom.
A devoted member of her church youth group, she serves as a mentor to elementary school students and volunteers locally on behalf of an assisted living facility.