Photo by DeAnna Turner || CIF State XC Championships Photo Album
On Thursday, Gatorade announced its California girls player of the year for cross country within its annual Player of the Year program. Since the 2007-2008 season, Gatorade has recognized a Player of the Year in Cross Country for their athletic excellence, academic achievement, and exemplary character.
Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura High School was named the 2024-2025 Gatorade Girls Cross Country Player of the Year for the third year in a row. Engelhardt won her third straight CIF Division 2 State Cross Country Championship this season and recorded her best finish at the Nike Cross National meet, 11th. However, Engelhardt's signature race of the season may have been shattering Claudia Lane's record at historic Woodward Park.
Evan Noonan of Dana Hills High School was named the 2024-205 Gatorade Boys Cross Country Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Like Engelhardt, Noonan secured his third consecutive CIF State Cross Country Championship, this time in division 3. He also rebounded from a 100th-place finish at NXN in 2023 to an impressive 5th-place finish in 2024. Noonan will attend Stanford University in the fall to continue his distance career.
You'll find a list of every California Gatorade Boys and Girls Player of the Year in the graph below. MileSplit announced its 2024 COROS XC Athlete of the Year in December, honoring Jane Hendegren of Timpview and Tam Gavenas of Phillips Academy Andover.
Girls
Year | Girls | School |
2024 | Ventura | |
2023 | Ventura | |
2022 | Ventura | |
2021 | Mira Costa | |
2020 | Del Oro | |
2019 | Canyon Crest Academy | |
2018 | La Costa Canyon | |
2017 | Malibu | |
2016 | Malibu | |
2015 | Santa Cruz | |
2014 | Davis | |
2013 | Simi Valley | |
2012 | Simi Valley | |
2011 | Simi Valley | |
2010 | Simi Valley | |
2009 | Rancho Bernardo | |
2008 | Mission College Prep | |
2007 | Mission College Prep |
Boys
Year | Boys | School |
2024 | Dana Hills | |
2023 | Dana Hills | |
2022 | Newbury Park | |
2021 | Newbury Park | |
2020 | Newbury Park | |
2019 | Newbury Park | |
2018 | Redwood | |
2017 | Redwood | |
2016 | San Luis Obispo | |
2015 | Arcadia | |
2014 | Brea Olinda | |
2013 | Stockdale | |
2012 | Dos Pueblos | |
2011 | La Costa Canyon | |
2010 | Arcadia | |
2009 | Arcadia | |
2008 | Foothill | |
2007 | Riverbank |
* = Also named the Cross Country Gatorade National Player of the Year
Schools with the Most Individual Winners
3 - Newbury High School
2 - Arcadia High School, La Costa Canyon High School
Individuals with the Most Player of the Year Awards
4 - Sarah Baxter
3 - Sadie Engelhardt
2 - Jordan Hasay, Ammar Moussa, Claudia Lane, Liam Anderson,Colin Sahlman, Evan Noonan