Jane Hedengren is raising the bar for high school distance running. On Thursday, March 13, the 18-year-old shattered multiple records while winning the 5,000 meters at Nike Indoor Nationals in New York City.
After battling with fellow senior Rylee Blade for the majority of the race, the runner from Provo, Utah, broke away in the last 100 meters to secure victory in 15:13.26. Hedengren’s performance smashed the indoor and outdoor high school records in the event. Both marks were set last year by Elizabeth Leachman, who clocked 15:28.90 at Nike Indoor Nationals two weeks before running 15:25.27 at Texas Relays. Hedengren, who is committed to run for Brigham Young University in the fall, also broke the American junior (U20) record while averaging 4:54 mile pace at The Armory.
And Blade wasn’t far behind. The 17-year-old’s persistence paid off when she finished second in 15:16.72, also well under the previous record.
“It was awesome to be there with Rylee and get to push each other. I don’t get to have that very often, so I’m always grateful for these opportunities to travel and get some competition with girls that work hard,” Hedengren told Dyestat.
Hedengren’s national title in the 5,000 meters adds to her growing collection of accolades this year. In December, the Timpview High School standout set a new course record on the grass while winning Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon. In February, she opened her indoor track season with a 4:36.23 personal best in the 1600 meters at the REP Distance Challenge in Kearns, Utah. Two weeks later, she clocked 9:37.50 in the 3200 meters at the Simplot Games in Pocatello, Idaho. While Mary Cain still holds the indoor 2-mile record (9:38.68 from 2013), Hedengren’s mark converts to 9:40.85 for the distance, which puts her No. 2 on the high school all-time list.
Her time in the 5,000 meters would also be competitive at the elite level. Today, Hedengren is No. 13 among the top Americans who have competed in the event so far this season.
Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.
