Sadie Engelhardt Wins 2024 Gatorade Girls Track And Field Player Of The Year

High school runner Sadie Engelhardt is the recipient of the 2023-2024 Gatorade California Girls Track & Field Player of the Year.

Gatorade announced on Tuesday the prestigious award winner. The Gatorade California Girls Track & Field Player of the Year award honor’s the most elite high school athletes, celebrating them for their performance on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.

Engelhardt is the first athletes to be selected from Ventura High School. The junior has had a phenomenal team breaking the national high school record in the mile with a time of 4:28.46 at the HOKA Festival of Miles.

She then set the mile meet record at the 2024 New Balance Nationals Outdoor with her 4:37.05 time.

The rising senior is known for her 1500-meter performances, ranking number five among U.S. prep girls after her Portland Track Festival finish of 4:08.86.

This qualified the youth runner to compete at the 2024 Track and Field Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. The Olympic Trials 15000m is scheduled for Thursday, June 27. She is among 10 other high school athletes competing at the Trials.

A member of Ventura High School’s Cougars, Engelhardt had an impressive junior year as she helped her team to finish in second-place at the state meet. As the anchor in the 4×8-0, she lead the Cougars win the relay at the CIF championship.

She broke the California record in the 1600 with 4:32.06 at the state meet at the Gatorade State Girls Cross Country POY 2022-24. She landed her with the the fastest time ever in the event in a high school-only meet.

Off of the filed, Engelhardt holds a 4.59 GPA. She is attuning NC State in he fall of 2025, competition with the school on scholarship.

The 17-year-old is also making a difference in her community. She volunteers with Runners For Public Lands to help clean trails in Ventura County.

This is the third straight year Engelhardt has won the Gatorade California Girls Track & Field Player of the Year. A Gatorade Player of the Year is elected in each of the 50 states across sports that includes track & field, cross country, football, volleyball and more.

Engelhardt joins the roster of other Gatorade California Girls Track & Field Players of the Year recipients that include Mia Barnett(2020-21, Crescenta Valley High School) and Paige Sommers (2019-20, Westlake High School).