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

Girls Cross Country - South Dakota

Gatorade Player of the year

Peyton VanDeest

Runner
SPEARFISH HS
SPEARFISH , SOUTH DAKOTA
JUNIOR
Height: 5-FOOT-11
Press Release

Peak Performance

2nd - 17:04.3

Nike Cross Heartland Regional Championships

37th

Nike Cross Nationals

2nd

Class AA state meet
“Peyton is an outstanding example of an athlete who had success as a middle schooler, but continued to progress and excel (as an athlete) in high school. What stands out with Peyton is her confidence to stick her nose in races and run with the best. That toughness had propelled her to some of the top performances in South Dakota history.”
Jesse Coy
Head Coach - Rapid City Stevens High

Athletic Excellence

The 5-foot-11 junior earned First Team All-Region honors this past season by taking second at the Nike Cross Heartland Regional Championships with a time of 17:04.3. VanDeest followed that effort by finishing 37th at Nike Cross Nationals. She also finished second at the Class AA state meet, leading the Spartans to a sixth-place finish as a team and she concluded the season ranked No. 19 in the national MileSplit50.

Academic Achievement

VanDeest has maintained a 3.92 GPA in the classroom. She will begin her senior year of high school this fall.

Exemplary Character

A member of her local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, VanDeest has donated her time to the Court Appointed Special Advocates program, a collection of volunteers appointed by judges to advocate for the best interests of children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect. She has also served on behalf of the Special Olympics.