The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545830
JULY/AUGUST 2026 ■ 45 BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN P reparing to move more than 2,600 miles across the country ahead of her freshman year at NC State, Sadie Engelhardt could feel a sense of doubt creeping into her mind. It wasn't a question of whether she could compete at the collegiate level. That was a given. She had amassed im- peccable credentials, setting the all-time high school mile record (4:28.46) while claiming five state championships in her native California and four national titles, in addition to being named the 2024 Ga- torade Female Athlete of the Year. Engelhardt, though, wasn't sure if she had made the correct choice in commit- ting to the Wolfpack as a junior at Ventura High. It felt right, but she wouldn't know for sure until she arrived on campus to begin the next chapter of her highly suc- cessful running career. Once Engelhardt started training with her new teammates to prepare for the 2025 cross country season, the uncer- tainty quickly evaporated. It took just a few weeks for her to feel comfortable in Raleigh. "I was not a huge fan of cross country in high school, but that team aspect and getting closer with the girls and running for each other really shifted my mental- ity," Engelhardt said. "All the doubt was pretty much gone within that first month of being at school. I was really happy I made that decision." The result of Engelhardt's quick as- similation was a debut campaign for the history books. She became the first Wolfpack athlete to claim ACC Fresh- man of the Year awards in cross country and indoor track, served as a critical part of the cross country national champion- ship, earned All-America status twice and set a pair of conference records on the track. It was quite a nine-month run, and it earned Engelhardt The Wolfpacker's Fe- male Athlete of the Year award for 2025- 26. For Engelhardt, cross country season was the perfect transition to college run- ning. She had raced at elite levels in high school, but being pushed to be her best each time she toed the line at NC State was a different feeling. Engelhardt wasn't the star of the team like she had been in high school. Instead of racing from the front each time she heard the starting gun go off, she embraced her role on the team, which was simply to fin- ish as high as she could in each race. Head coach Laurie Henes was im- pressed with how Engelhardt was able to shift her mindset. "For someone at her level, to step in and not be the No. 1 runner and not be running for a national title, but instead to be the best No. 5 in the country, is not an easy thing," Henes said. "She stepped right into it and was so consistent." Positive results followed. Engelhardt earned ACC Freshman of the Year hon- ors in cross country with a 10th-place finish at the conference meet, covering the 6-kilometer course in a season-best 19:45.50. At nationals, she shattered that mark and was the final scoring runner for the Pack, finishing in 19:32.5 to clinch the team championship. When it came time to hit the track, Engelhardt proved her reputation as an elite miler was well deserved. She set an ACC indoor record with a blaz- ing 4:23.84 at the ASICS Sound Invite on Feb. 14 in Winston-Salem. The mark was a personal best for Engelhardt, as well as the sixth-fastest time ever run at the NCAA level. She went on to win the league title with a 4:32.59 two weeks later before finishing third at the national meet. During the outdoor season, Engelhardt broke NC State's record in the 800 by finishing in 2:02.31, and a week later she shattered the ACC mark in the 1,500 with a time of 4:03.28. Although minor injuries kept Engelhardt from winning individual national championships as a true freshman, she firmly established herself as an athlete to watch in the years ahead. "It definitely wasn't a perfect year," she said. "But even dealing with the issues, I can't really complain. I'd deal with those issues again if it meant I'd PR and run faster." ■ FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2025-26 YEAR IN REVIEW ATHLETES OF THE YEAR FAST FAST STARTER STARTER Sadie Engelhardt Makes Sadie Engelhardt Makes A Big Impression A Big Impression In Her Debut Campaign In Her Debut Campaign Engelhardt opened her collegiate career by winning ACC Freshman of the Year honors in both cross country and indoor track. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS