Rio Rancho NM Senior Surprised At School By Two-Time Olympic Medalist And World Record Breaker

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Kim Spir Photo (NXN)/Gatorade Photo

The carefully laid plans for Grant Fisher to surprise Rio Rancho NM senior Charlie Vause with the 2024-25 Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Player of the Year award on Tuesday almost hit a snag when Fisher got hung up in traffic due to an accident. 

However, Fisher, who has broken two world records in the past 10 days, got to his appointed spot in time to surprise Vause and hand over the trophy. 

"It means the world," Vause said of Fisher's involvement in Tuesday's presentation. "It's been a really inspirational couple of weeks.

"It's awesome to see someone who really inspires me and every other kid that runs cross country and track to push themselves past their limits and to be bold and go out there and take care of business."

Vause, who was outkicked to the finish tape at his own state meet, earned his place among national Gatorade award recipients by virture of his final kilometer drive to pull away from a deep field and win Nike Cross Nationals in Portland. 

Vause joins Jane Hedengren of Timpview UT as this year's Gatorade National Player of the Year winners for cross country. 

"After (last) track season I kind of felt like I'd hit rock bottom, Vause said. "I was not proud at all of the way I was racing and running wasn't fun. I didn't enjoy it. I think I really had to be humbled and come to that point where I had to remember why I do this. And I know now why: It's because I love the sport and it brings me joy. When I can run with joy and gratitude I can be where I want to be."

Vause was selected from more than 300,000 other student-athletes who compete in high school boys cross country nationwide, according to Gatorade. 

Fisher called it a 'full circle' moment. The night before NXN, he took a photo with Vause. The next day, Fisher held the finish tape as a mud-covered Vause completed his 5,000-meter race at Glendoveer Golf Course. 

Gatorade Players of the Year are not only the best of the best in their respective sports, but they’re also role models and leaders off the field.

Vause has volunteered locally on behalf of his church youth group as well as the Big Event, New Mexico’s largest community service project  for neighbors in need. He has also donated his time to RunFit road races in the area and works as a swim instructor at the Rio Rancho Aquatic Center twice a week. Vause has maintained a 4.17 GPA in the classroom and has signed a written letter of athletic aid to run at Brigham Young University this fall.