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With the indoor track and field season underway in parts of the country, it's the perfect time to unveil the COROS MileSplit50 Preseason Girls Individual Indoor Track and Field Rankings. We're releasing the rankings all at once, giving you an exclusive look at the top athletes across the nation, including standout competitors poised for a big season.
MileSplit has taken a deep dive into the achievements and potential of these athletes, highlighting their journeys and accomplishments as they prepare for the winter season. Some of the athletes to watch include Jane Hedengren, Lisa Raye, and Elise Cooper, who are all expected to make waves this season.
Stay tuned as we continue to explore the MileSplit50 rankings and celebrate the top talent in girls' indoor track and field.
Below you can find the preseason individual rankings.
COROS MILESPLIT50
Preseason Indoor Track & Field Rankings:
| RANK | ATHLETE |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sadie Engelhardt, Ventura (Calif.) |
| 2 | Elise Cooper, McDonogh (Md.) |
| 3 | Lisa Raye, West Warwick (R.I.) |
| 4 | Jane Hedengren, Timpview (Utah) |
| 5 | Elizabeth Leachman, Boerne Champion (Tex.) |
| 6 | Taylor Cox, Union Catholic Reg. (N.J.) |
| 7 | Sydney Sutton, Bullis School (Md.) |
| 8 | Skylar Franklin, H-Town Christian (Calif.) |
| 9 | Dylan McElhinney, Hunter College Campus (N.Y.) |
| 10 | Bayleigh Minor, Fort Bend Christian (Tex.) |
| 11 | Keelan Wright, Chaparral (Calif.) |
| 12 | Dana Wilson, Greensboro Day School (N.C.) |
| 13 | Addison Ritzenhein, Niwot (Colo.) |
| 14 | Veronica Vacca, Mount Saint Joseph (Penn.) |
| 15 | Olivia Cieslak, Haverford Township (Penn.) |
| 16 | Aleesa Samuel, Somerset Academy (Fla.) |
| 17 | Sophia McInnes, Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.) |
| 18 | Sianni Wynn, Pennsauken (N.J.) |
| 19 | Hannah Grace, Coastal Christian (N.C.) |
| 20 | Rylee Blade, Santiago Corona (Calif.) |
| 21 | Aria Pearce, Wallace County (Kans.) |
| 22 | Zariel Macchia, William Floyd (N.Y.) |
| 23 | Dasia Reed, Montverde Academy (Fla.) |
| 24 | Victoria Garces, Midland Dow (Mich.) |
| 25 | Alli Delisi, Penn Charter (Penn.) |
Breaking Down the Top Five
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1. Sadie Engelhardt, Unattached (Calif.)
Engelhardt enters the indoor season as one of the most accomplished distance runners in high school history, coming off an incredible 2024 campaign that saw her continue to break records and capture titles. Last outdoor season, Engelhardt made a splash with an appearance at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, where she competed in the 1,500m. She set an outdoor national record in the mile with a time of 4:28.46 and ran a 1,500m PR of 4:08.86. She also posted an 800m personal best of 2:03.48 and clocked a 56.45 in the 400m. Engelhardt won a Brooks PR 800m title, earned her third straight national championship in the mile, and helped lead her team to two California state championships, including an unforgettable come-from-behind victory in the girls' 4x800 relay.
In the fall, Engelhardt added another California State Cross Country title to her resume and finished 11th at Nike Cross Nationals, solidifying her status as one of the top runners in the nation. During the indoor season, she continued to impress, winning the 1,500m at The TEN with a 4:09.70, which ranks No. 6 all-time in high school history. Engelhardt also set a new personal best in the 800m with a 2:03.48 at the APU Meet of Champions and posted a No. 4 all-time performance in the 1K (2:41.00) and a No. 3 all-time mile (4:34.45). With an impressive collection of records and titles already under her belt, Engelhardt is poised for another standout season as she continues to build on her already legendary career.
2. Elise Cooper, McDonogh (Md.)
Elise Cooper's junior season solidified her as one of the nation's premier sprinters and earned her the prestigious title of Gatorade Maryland Girls Track & Field Player of the Year. Representing McDonogh School, Cooper dominated the sprinting scene in Maryland, claiming Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland state titles in the 100m and 200m and leading her team to the Varsity A state championship. Her crowning achievement came at the Nike Outdoor Nationals, where she captured the 200m national title with a blistering time of 23.02 seconds, ranking No. 6 nationally for the 2024 season. Cooper further showcased her talent at the 2024 USATF U20 Championships, finishing fifth in the 100m and claiming first place in the 200m.
As a rising senior, Cooper took her talents to the national stage, competing at the Olympic Trials in the 200m. She advanced to the semifinals, where she ran an impressive 22.71 but narrowly missed the finals, finishing fifth in her heat behind elite athletes like Twanisha Terry, Jadyn Mays, Jenna Prandini, and Sha'Carri Richardson. Earlier in the prelims, she clocked 23.05, cementing her place as one of the fastest young sprinters in the country. With one year of high school remaining, Cooper's trajectory points toward even greater achievements on the track.
3. Lisa Raye, West Warwick (R.I.)
Lisa Raye's sophomore season was nothing short of spectacular, solidifying her as one of the top high school sprinters in the nation. At the New Balance Nationals Outdoor, Raye swept the 100m and 200m titles with wind-legal times of 11.26 and 22.77, respectively. These performances not only ranked her No. 5 and No. 1 nationally for 2024 but also placed her among the all-time greats. Her 200m time is the 10th fastest in high school history, while both marks are top-10 for sophomores. At the USATF Junior Olympics, she dominated the 15-16 age group, winning the 100m in a wind-aided 11.16 and the 200m in 23.20, both faster than the winning times in the 17-18 division. Her record-breaking 11.29 in the 100m prelims at that meet highlighted her consistency and ability to perform on the biggest stages.
Raye's dominance extended to the Rhode Island State Championships, where she won four titles in the 100m, 200m, 100m hurdles, and 300m hurdles, setting state records in each. Her versatility and rapid improvement from 2023, when her best times were 11.60 and 23.50, underscore her incredible work ethic and potential. Named the COROS MileSplit50 Underclassmen Athlete of the Year, Raye has already rewritten the record books and shown she can compete with the nation's best. As she heads into her junior year, she remains a rising star poised to shatter even more records and leave an indelible mark on high school track and field.
4. Jane Hedengren, Timpview (Utah)
Hedengren's 2024 track season was a remarkable display of dominance and personal bests. She opened the outdoor season with a victory in the mile at Nike Outdoor Nationals, clocking 4:38.50 and pulling away from sophomore Elizabeth Leachman in the final quarter. Hedengren also posted a personal best of 9:48.77 in the 2-mile at Brooks PR, finishing just behind Allie Zealand's 9:41.76, marking the two fastest outdoor times in high school history. She ended the season ranked U.S. No. 5 in the mile and second among juniors. Additionally, Hedengren ran a personal best of 2:07.85 in the 800m at the Utah Class 5A State Championships and set a state 3,200m record with a time of 9:52.96.
On the cross-country side, Hedengren made a triumphant return after an injury-riddled 2023 season. She won her ninth state title and helped lead Timpview to a second consecutive 5A team championship. At Nike Cross Nationals, Hedengren shattered Katelyn Tuohy's course record with a 16:32.7, winning by a commanding 41 seconds.
Looking ahead to the indoor season, Hedengren is poised to continue her incredible form. With her 2024 outdoor success and cross-country triumphs, she enters the indoor season as one of the top contenders in the mile and 2-mile, aiming to further solidify her place among the nation's best.
5. Elizabeth Leachman, Boerne Champion (Tex.)
Leachman had a remarkable year, starting with an outstanding indoor season and continuing her dominance outdoors. In February, she set the national high school record in the 3,200m with a time of 9:43.74 in Texas, becoming the first girl to dip under 9:45 in this event in high school history. At Nike Indoor Nationals, she broke Katelyn Tuohy's 5,000m record with a time of 15:28.90, and also ran the second-fastest indoor 2-mile ever, clocking 9:44.16. Her indoor season was capped by a personal best of 4:41.36 in the 1,600m at the Texas state championships, where she claimed her second state title.
Outdoors, Leachman continued to make history, breaking the national 5K record at the Texas Relays with a time of 15:25.27, surpassing Natalie Cook's previous record. She also won two Texas state titles, taking the 1,600m in 4:41.36 and the 3,200m in 10:11.40. Leachman's outdoor performances included a fourth-place finish in the 2-mile at the Brooks PR Invitational with a time of 9:52.30. She also competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 5K, finishing 26th with a time of 16:36.67. With a Foot Locker XC Title and being the fastest returner in the 5K for cross country, Leachman is poised for continued success during this indoor season.