Jane Hedengren
She first caught my attention nearly three years back, when she was merely a high school sophomore.
Back then, my job involved reporting on the best high school track and field and cross-country runners in the country. One day, when browsing through the top listings for early-season cross-country results from Timpview High School in Utah, featuring some younger students, something about her performance caught my eye atop those rankings. It made me think this athlete could have exceptional potential.
In her initial two competitions of the 2022 cross-country season, the athlete from Provo shattered a 3-mile course record.
UIAAA Invitational
in Spanish Fork, Utah and claimed a state
Pre-Region
meet by 20 seconds. She not only ranked as the top sophomore in the country thanks to those performances, but she stacked up as one of the fastest high school girls in the country—regardless of grade.
However, during my telephone conversation with Hedengren that autumn for an article, she barely discussed her recent performances. Rather, her focus was entirely on setting new challenges for herself moving forward. “What I adore about running,” she shared with me, “is the opportunity to test my limits and discover just what I’m able to accomplish.”
MileSplit
I enjoy the challenge and appreciate how difficulty allows me to learn valuable lessons.
It may not be surprising then that Hedengren has since set new benchmarks for high school athletes to strive towards.
As a high school senior during the current academic year, she completely revamped the records for U.S. high school girls in long-distance track events. However, her approach was different.
demolished
them shocked even me.
Lately,
Runner’s World
Readers simply can’t put down stories about Hedengren and her accomplishments.
Last week, she shattered two high school records within a short time frame.
three days
. She
clocked 4:23.50 to break the mile record
by almost five seconds at the Hoka Festival of Miles in St. Louis last Thursday and
recorded a time of 9:17.75 for the 2-mile mark
On Sunday, during the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle, she wasn’t the only athlete to set a record at this event. Also making headlines was 16-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus.
set a new mark for the boys’ 800-meter high school record
which had remained unchanged for almost three decades.)
To provide some context, Hendengren’s mile record almost eclipses the collegiate mark established earlier this year, and her 2-mile performance places her at number seven on the senior U.S. all-time list. Her performances stand out significantly compared to those of typical 18-year-old athletes.
If you’ve only recently discovered Hedengren and her abilities this week, you should definitely look into the notable competitions she participated in earlier this year.
A
14:57.93 for the 5K event at the Bryan Clay Invitational
On April 17 in California, Hedengren became the first U.S. high school girl to complete the race in less than 15 minutes. She also set this record.
mile
and
5K high school indoor track records
In March, she won her races at the Nike Indoor Nationals with times of 4:26.14 and 15:13.26. We shouldn’t overlook that prior to her outstanding 9:17 performance on Sunday, Hedengren had already accomplished significant feats.
set the 2-mile high school record at 9:34.12
At the Arcadia Invitational in April.
Hedengren now owns
American high school records
In eight different track events (with two of them being during-route markers), she has made herself potentially the quickest female athlete ever to circle the oval in U.S. high school history. Additionally, she has claimed more than a dozen championships at the Utah state level and secured the prestigious accolade known as the
Nike Cross Nationals
The championship from last December stands out. This series of achievements reminds me of the times when a younger version of myself was competing.
Katelyn Tuohy
Similarly, Hedengren excelled in the girls’ long-distance events during his time in high school. He even broke records previously held by others.
Mary Cain
back in 2013 that appeared nearly unattainable.
The most exciting aspect is that Hedengren’s season has not concluded. She intends to compete in the 3,000 meters event at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon, scheduled for June 20. After her high school season wraps up, Hedengren will join a
BYU team
During the autumn when both the women’s and men’s teams clinched their victories at the 2024 NCAA Cross-Country Championships held in Madison, Wisconsin.
However, as Hedengren informed me three years back, she isn’t one to avoid challenges. Therefore, don’t be astonished if we’re covering yet another Hedengren milestone before the summer ends.
