GATORADE CA GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ventura High School freshman Sadie Engelhardt reacts after winning the 1600-meter race at the CIF-State Track and Field Championships on May 28 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis. (Pat Rhames photo)
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In a year of many firsts for Ventura High School's Sadie Engelhardt, the freshman distance running sensation added another major one today when it was announced that she is the 2021-22 Gatorade California Girls Track and Field Player of the Year.
Engelhardt is the first student-athlete from Ventura (SS) to win this award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field. She is now also a finalist for Gatorade National Girls Track and Field Player of the Year, which will be announced in July.
It was a season full of top performances, record-setting times and success at the CIF State Championship meet for Engelhardt. During the year, she competed in the 800, 1600 and 3200. She finished the high school season with state's best marks in the 800 (2:05.66, West Coast Relays), 1600 (4:33.29, Arcadia Invitational) and 3200 (9:50.69, Ventura County Championships). She achieved a state record time in the 1500 and ran the second-fastest mile in state history in separate meets held in Oregon earlier this month.
Engelhardt won the CIF State title in the 1600 in 4:36.67 and was second in the 800 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis. She broke the state record in the 1500 with a time of 4:11.79 at the Portland Track Festival, which ranked as the nation's top performance among girls' high school competitors in 2022. Engelhardt won the mile event at Arcadia Invitational in 4:35.16, which set an under-16 world record and was the No. 4 time in U.S. girls' high school track history. She concluded her 2022 season earlier this month securing a national title in the mile at the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation Outdoor Nationals meet in Eugene, Oregon, finishing in 4:38.40.
"Sadie may be one of the best runners in high school history, but she's so much more than that," said Tyree Cruz, Ventura distance coach. "She's also a great teammate who loves her team and is always there for them."
Beyond the track, Engelhardt has maintained an A grade average in the classroom. She has volunteered locally for Runners for Public Lands as well as her school's Greener World Action Team.
By winning the Gatorade award, Engelhardt, through the Gatorade "Play it Forward" platform, can provide a financial boost of within her community. She has the chance to award a $1,000 grant to a local or national organization of her choosing that helps young athletes realize the benefits of playing sports. She is also eligible to submit a short video explaining why her organization of choice is deserving of one of 12 $10,000 spotlight grants, which will be announced at a later date.
Ryan Blystone is a freelance writer and regular contributor for MileSplit.
Photos by Deanna Turner and Pat Rhames.
