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13 Days Until the State Boys Cross Country Announcement
Gatorade 2025 - 2026: Player of the Year

Girls Cross Country - California

Gatorade Player of the year

Jaelyn Williams

Runner
EASTLAKE HS
CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA
SENIOR
Height: 5-FOOT-5
Press Release

Peak Performance

1st - 16:28.0

CIF Division I state meet

3x

Division I All-State honoree
“Jaelyn Williams demonstrated unprecedented dominance down the stretch. She became the first Golden State talent in history to break five minutes in the final mile of the state meet course (4:58.1), riding that momentum to smash the Division I meet record. She then earned third place at each of the season’s premier national championship races. Her double-bronze performance netted her All-American honors at both events, closing out her prep career as the state’s most decorated national racer in 2025 with an incredible four All-American finishes in her prep career.”
Rich Gonzalez
Editor - PrepCalTrack

Athletic Excellence

The 5-foot-5 senior won the CIF Division I state meet this past season with a time of 16:28.0, breaking the divisional record previously held by two-time Nike Cross Nationals champion Sarah Baxter by 12 seconds. Williams also became California’s first single-season double All-American in history. She concluded her prep distance career as a three-time Division I All-State honoree 

Academic Achievement

Williams has maintained a weighted 4.63 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a written letter of athletic aid to run at Stanford University this fall.

Exemplary Character

Williams has volunteered locally at Corpus Christi Catholic Church as an altar server, a young apostle, and as a leader at church youth camps. She has also donated her time assisting at Sweetwater Unified School District’s middle school cross country and track and field meets.