Sadie Engelhardt: Rising Star Shines with Historic Indoor Mile Performance
On February 2, 2025, at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston, Sadie Engelhardt, a senior from Ventura High School in California, delivered a remarkable performance by completing the mile in 4:29.34. This achievement ranks as the second-fastest indoor mile in U.S. high school history, trailing only Mary Cain's 2013 record of 4:28.25.
Engelhardt's journey in track and field began in elementary school, where she participated in cross country at Poinsettia Elementary in Ventura. Initially, running served as conditioning for her primary passion, soccer. However, by eighth grade, after clocking a 4:40 mile, she recognized her exceptional talent and shifted her focus to track.
Throughout her tenure at Ventura High School, Engelhardt has consistently broken records and garnered accolades. In 2022, she became the California State Champion and set an all-time record in the 1600 meters at the Arcadia Invitational. The following year, she achieved a historic double at the CIF State Track and Field Championships in Clovis, winning both the 1600-meter and 800-meter events. Notably, she set a meet record in the 1600 meters with a time of 4:33.45, a feat last accomplished in 1975.
Academically, Engelhardt has maintained a weighted 4.59 GPA and has committed to competing on scholarship at North Carolina State University starting in the fall of 2025.
Reflecting on her recent performance, Engelhardt emphasized the importance of enjoying the journey, stating, "I'm still in high school, so this is like the fun part before it gets really serious in college and (at the) professional level, so just doing my best."
Engelhardt's blend of academic excellence, athletic prowess, and grounded perspective underscores her as a standout figure in high school athletics. As she continues to break barriers, the track and field community eagerly anticipates her future endeavors.
posted Monday February 3rd