BYU Commit And Nike Cross Nationals Champion Surprised At School By Courtney Wayment 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Photos courtesy of Gatorade

Jane Hedengren arrived at Timpiew High on Tuesday morning with a teammate prepared to meet at the track with the school's athletic trainer. 

What she found was that the Gatorade Player of the Year Award for girls cross country was waiting for her, along with Olympian and fellow Utahn Courtney Wayment. 

"It's been a super exciting morning and I'm really honored to receive this award," Hedengren said. 

It was cerainly no mystery who deserved to win Gatorade's national award for girls cross country for the 2024 season. 

Hedengren was dominant in the biggest races of the season, beginning with a 1-minute victory at the Utah Class 5A state final in 16:21.5 on the three-mile course at Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City. 

Then she won the NXR Southwest regional championship race with an astonishing 5-kilometer time of 15:50.0 at Toka Sticks Golf Course in Arizona. 

But that was all a prelude to her grandest achievement. Hedengren smashed Katelyn Tuohy's course record at Nike Cross Nationals and beat a stellar field of runners at Portland's Glendoveer Golf Course in muddy conditions. She won that race in 16:32.7 and won by 41 seconds. 

Hedengren's father, John Hedengren, is a BYU professor in Chemical Engineering who has devoted some of his time to developing technology to improve runners' form with the help of artificial intelligence. 

Jane said she has not utilized much of her dad's data-driven tools, but having a scientist in her corner has always helped shape her runing form. 

"I'm always hoping to better my form and it's cool to see the cutting edge of technology that him and a few others are helping to develop," she said. 

At NXN, Hedengren said her plan was to "stay light on my feet" as she navigated the wet conditions. 

Wayment, an alum of BYU, said she is eager to see Hedengren take her next steps in college competing for the Cougars and coach Diljeet Taylor next fall. 

Already, Wayment said, Hedengren has become a vital part of the running scene in Provo. 

"Something super unique to Jane is how she carries herself," Wayment said. "She has such an aura about her that you can tell when she's running, but also when she's in her day-to-day or I see her out on a run, she's a very kind human who is trying to do her best and uplift everyone around her while doing so."

The Gatorade Player of the Year has a 40-year legacy recognizing and celebrating the next generation unlike anyone else, from one-on-one connections to their favorite pros to first access to Gatorade Drops and participation in community initiatives.

“The Gatorade Player of the Year award is given to athletes who are the best of the best in their sport across the country,” said Gatorade Chief Brand Officer Anuj Bhasin. “With nearly 300,000 student-athletes competing in girls cross country nationwide, Jane was given the top award in high school sports because she is someone who excels in all facets of her life.”