2023 - 2024 GATORADE
NATIONAL GIRLS TRACK & FIELD
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
SADIE
ENGELHARDT
DISTANCE
VENTURA HS
VENTURA, CALIFORNIA
JUNIOR
HEIGHT: 5-FOOT-9
PRESS RELEASE

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HIGHLIGHTED STATS
1ST - 4:28.46
HOKA FESTIVAL OF MILES - 1 MILE
4:08.86
PORTLAND TRACK FESTIVAL - 1500M
1ST - 4:32.06
STATE MEET - 1600M
1ST - 2:03.46
DISTANCE MEET OF CHAMPIONS - 800M
“Sadie Engelhardt delivered a Master Class for the ages this past season. From breaking the revered prep national mile record to defeating a flock of professionals at their preferred, 1500-meter distance, the head-turning phenom repeatedly entertained fans and destroyed race fields placed before her. The 17-year-old marvel displayed moxie beyond her years, ascending to new levels within the distance arena with both the grace and the grit to emerge as the celebrated face of the sport. Finishing this past season as the national leader in four events, she’s an all-timer whose run on the prep scene isn’t over yet.”
Rich Gonzalez
editor of PrepCalTrack.com

Athletic Excellence


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.

Academic Achievement


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.

Exemplary Character


Engelhardt has volunteered locally on behalf of Runners For Public Lands, helping to clean trails and other places to run around Ventura County.