Gianna Rahmer showed up and conquered the 2023 cross country season, putting her name on the map early -- just an eighth grader.
She finished off her season placing sixth at Nike Cross Nationals, clocking 17:38.90 in the muddy conditions in Portland, Ore. this past weekend.
Impressively enough, that was the only race she didn't break the tape this season.
Back in September, she raced her debut 5k, clocking 17:46.39 and taking the win at the Lobo Invitational.
Just a little over a month later, she shocked the field at the NMAA State Championship. While covering a time of 16:58.01, she won the girls 5A race by over two minutes and shattered the course record.
Rahmer didn't stop there, though.
Just a week later, she went on to win the NXR Southwest Region, running 17:00.58. She triumphed over Colorado state champions Isabel Allori, and eventual NXN Champion Addison Ritzenhein to become the first eighth grader to ever win the event.
Overall, Rahmer earned six consecutive wins during her first cross country season in New Mexico.
Her 16:58.01 held at a New Mexico No. 1 mark, as well as an overall season U.S. No. 26. At just 14 years old, she is the youngest girl in the country to dip under 17 minutes this season.
No one even came close to her, as she took over the state rankings by over a minute.
Rahmer sits at No. 2 all-time for her class, right behind Amaris Tyynismaa who was the only other eighth grader to ever break 17 minutes, clocking 16:57.00 at Foot Locker in 2014.
Rahmer's impressive stats have created loads of excitement all around, and with the track season right around the corner, we can expect more to come from the class of 2028 star.
