Jane Hedengren
A Record-Shattering Season
In 2025, Jane Hedengren completed what many consider one of the most dominant high-school distance seasons in U.S. prep history — a performance that earned her the title of High School Girls Athlete of the Year from Track & Field News. (Track & Field News)
Hedengren, a senior at Timpview High School in Provo, Utah, didn’t just win races — she rewrote the record books.
Over the indoor and outdoor seasons she set no fewer than 8 absolute High School Records (HSRs) at major distances, including the mile, two-mile, 3000 m, and 5000 m. (Track & Field News)
Some of her landmark marks:
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Mile: 4:23.50 at the HOKA Festival of Miles, demolishing the prior prep record. (Track & Field News)
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Two-mile: 9:17.75 at the Brooks PR Invitational — an astonishing time for a high-schooler. (Track & Field News)
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3000 m: 8:40.03 at Nike Outdoor Nationals, establishing her as the high school national leader. (The Salt Lake Tribune)
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5000 m: 14:57.93 at the Bryan Clay Invitational — she became the first prep to dip under 15 minutes over 5K in many years. (Deseret News)
Her indoor season was equally spectacular: at the Nike Indoor Nationals she ran 4:26.14 in the mile, reportedly beating Mary Cain’s previous record by more than two seconds. (MileSplit United States)
From Family Roots to Elite Status
Hedengren’s journey to this level was gradual but relentless.
She grew up in a running family: her father, John Hedengren, ran competitively in college for BYU and was a Mountain West cross-country champion. (Track & Field News)
The environment clearly set the stage for Jane’s emergence.
By 5th grade she was running on the USATF Junior Olympic circuit.
In high school, she steadily climbed: by 9th grade she broke 5:00 in the mile.
By her sophomore year she was winning national-level races. (Track & Field News)
Her senior season, however, was in a class by itself.
Her dominance spanned cross country and track, as she neatly closed out her prep career with a string of record-setting performances, showing both range (800 m to 5 000 m) and supremacy (winning margins, course records).
Beyond the Times: Leadership and Accolades
Times and records tell much of the story, but the recognition followed in kind.
Hedengren was named the 2024-25 Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Player of the Year. (Deseret News)
And she also secured the Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Player of the Year honor in 2025. (KSL News)
On top of that, she received national recognition.
At the 2025 ESPY Awards she accepted the award for Gatorade Best Female Player of the Year — positioning her among the very best athletes in U.S. high school sports, across all disciplines. (Deseret News)
Her contributions also extended to the classroom and community: as the Gatorade program highlights, recipients must excel not only athletically but academically and in character.
In previous cross-country honors she was noted to carry a 3.75 GPA and engage in volunteer work. (playeroftheyear.gatorade.com)
What Made Her Stand Out
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Breadth and dominance: Hedengren wasn’t confined to one distance; she smashed records from mile to 5 K.
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Unmatched margins: In cross country, she won major national races by huge gaps.
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At the 2024 Nike Cross Nationals, she set a course record of 16:32.7 and won by 41 seconds. (Deseret News)
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Timing: Her performances came when it mattered — championship meets, high altitude, national level.
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Trajectory & maturity: While many phenoms blast in a single season, she built steadily from elementary school onward, showing resilience and development.
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Recognition beyond running: The national awards and media spotlight illustrate how exceptional her season was.
What’s Next?
Now committed to Brigham Young University (BYU), Hedengren is poised for the next chapter.
Publications note that she is well aware of the transition from high school to collegiate competition.
In one interview she said: “I’m sure there’s going to be many learning curves …
I’m ready for that and I think that will only positively affect me as a person and as an athlete.” (Deseret News)
As early as October 2025, she made headlines in her collegiate debut: at the Missouri Pre-Nationals she won the 6 K in 18:42.30, setting a course record and earning the USTFCCCA Co-Women’s Athlete of the Week honor. (byucougars.com)
The Legacy of a High School Athlete of the Year
Being named High School Girls Athlete of the Year by Track & Field News means more than one good season.
It signifies a prep athlete who has truly dominated at the national level, broken records, shown consistency, and carried a presence that stands out in the sport.
The writers behind the award noted Hedengren was the “overwhelming choice” for their 48th Girls AOY, stating:
“She has done everything she needed to prove that she is the best at every distance…” (Track & Field News)
For high school track & field watchers, Hedengren’s season will be viewed as a benchmark for what is possible in the sport.
She put the distance girls’ high school record book on notice.
Final Thoughts
Jane Hedengren’s 2025 campaign was historic—convincing, consistent, and record-laden.
She embodied what it means to be a top prep athlete: dominating performances, national recognition, growth from early years, and the promise of more ahead.
Her selection as High School Girls Athlete of the Year is fully earned, and as she transitions to BYU, the running world will be watching closely to see the next chapter of her story unfold.
