The 5-foot-9 junior distance talent finished as the national leader in four events this past season and sparked the Cougars to a second-place team finish at the state meet. Engelhardt, who has now three-peated as Gatorade State Player of the Year in track, crossed the line in 4:28.46 seconds to break the national high school record in the mile at the HOKA Festival of Miles. She also clocked a 4:08.86 in the 1500-meter run while competing against pros at the Portland Track Festival—her time ranks No. 5 in U.S. girls prep history and qualified her for the U.S. Olympic Trials. Also the Gatorade State Girls Cross Country POY from 2022-24, she broke the California record in the 1600 with a 4:32.06 at the state meet, the fastest time ever in the event in a high school-only meet. Showing her versatility at the early season Distance Meet of Champions, she broke the tape in the 800 in 2:03.46, which was the nation’s No. 1 time by a prep girl at the time of her selection. For good measure, she rallied on the anchor leg of the 4x800 at the CIF championship meet to erase a 50-meter deficit and lead the Cougars, who finished second as a team, to a relay win.
Engelhardt has maintained a weighted 4.59 GPA in the classroom. She has made a verbal commitment to compete on scholarship at NC State beginning in the fall of 2025.
Engelhardt has volunteered locally on behalf of Runners For Public Lands, helping to clean trails and other places to run around Ventura County.
