The 2024 track and field season was nothing short of remarkable across all levels, with high school distance running producing some of the most exciting performances. Among the standout athletes was Sadie Engelhardt, a junior who capped off her season by competing at the Olympic Trials. Her achievements have established her as the top recruit in the class of 2025, but the Woodbridge Cross Country Invitational in California revealed that she wasn’t the only one leaving a significant mark on the sport.

The Emergence of Rylee Blade

At the Woodbridge Invitational, many expected Sadie Engelhardt to continue her dominance, having already won the event as a sophomore. However, the race took an unexpected turn when Rylee Blade, a lesser-known competitor from California, emerged victorious, breaking the high school national record for the three-mile distance in the process.

While Engelhardt ran faster than her previous winning time, she finished fifth. Ahead of her in fourth place was Jane Hedengren, a BYU commit and the second-ranked distance runner for the class of 2025. The second and third spots were claimed by Lily Alder and Chiara Daly, both highly regarded recruits from the class of 2026. But it was Blade who outshone them all, the only non-five-star recruit to place in the top six in what would become the fastest three-mile race ever run by high school girls.

Blade’s Under-the-Radar Status

Rylee Blade’s performance at Woodbridge raised the question: why had she been ranked as only a four-star recruit before the meet? Upon closer inspection, the answer became clear—high school track and field rankings don’t always capture an athlete’s full potential, particularly when it comes to distance runners.

The SCArecruiting.com rankings, like many others, are heavily based on performances in standard high school events, such as the 1600m and 3200m. While these distances feature in state championships and national leaderboards, longer events like the 5K often go underappreciated. Blade, who won the Nike Outdoor Nationals in the 5K as a junior, didn’t see this victory significantly boost her ranking due to the system’s focus on shorter events.

Drawing Parallels with Parker Valby

Blade’s situation closely mirrors that of Parker Valby, the current NCAA record holder for distance events and an Olympian. Valby, like Blade, wasn’t a standout in shorter events but excelled in cross country and longer track distances. As a result, she entered college as a high four-star recruit, despite her clear talent.

Once she arrived at Florida, Valby outperformed nearly all the five-star recruits ranked ahead of her, eventually becoming one of the top distance runners in collegiate history. By the time Katelyn Tuohy, her main rival, turned pro, Valby was consistently dominating her races, running far ahead of her competition.

Blade’s Bright Future

Could Rylee Blade follow a similar path to Parker Valby? It’s certainly possible. Blade’s record-breaking performance at Woodbridge has cemented her status as a five-star recruit, and Florida State, where she has committed to compete, may have found their next distance star. Blade’s talent appears to go beyond what high school track and field is structured to showcase, much like Valby’s did.

In a sport where rankings are often determined by performances in shorter races, athletes like Blade can sometimes fly under the radar. But as her Woodbridge victory and new national record prove, Blade is a high school athlete with more potential than the rankings could initially account for. Her future, much like Valby’s before her, could see her dominating the NCAA distance events in the coming years.

As the 2025 track and field season approaches, all eyes will be on Blade to see if she can continue her rise. With her recent achievements and her commitment to Florida State, she’s poised to become one of the most exciting talents in collegiate distance running. The question now is not if she will succeed, but just how far she will go.

Rylee Blade’s story is a reminder that rankings aren’t always the best measure of an athlete’s true potential. Her breakout performance at the Woodbridge Invitational signals the beginning of what could be a stellar career, and her journey to NCAA stardom is just getting started.

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