Athlete: Sarah Leinheiser
Year: 2017
School: Carmel, IN
Analysis: Sarah Leinheiser runs for perennial national power Carmel High School, so she's raced at NXN before, but last fall was a huge step up for the then-junior harrier as she improved from 105th at nationals in 2014 to seventh at nationals in 2015. Leinheiser was one of a few select elites to compete at both NXN and Foot Locker Nationals; not only did she lead Carmel to an eighth-place finish in Portland, but she returned to competition one week later and placed eighth overall in San Diego. She also won the Indiana state cross country championship and set a 5K XC PB of 17:20.20.
On the track, Leinheiser was not quite as dominant as her teammate, Christina Geisler, took the reins as the Greyhounds' top distance harrier in placing fourth at the state meet in the 3200m. However, Leinheiser did continue her rate of improvement and set new PBs in all events: 5:07.32 for one mile, 10:34 for 3200m and 17:16.27 for 5K on the track as she placed 13th overall at New Balance Nationals Outdoor. Leinheiser proved her worth last fall to be rated amongst the nation's top cross country runners and she and Geisler will form a formidable duo for the Greyhounds.