'I just knew': Ventura High running superstar Engelhardt commits to North Carolina State

When Sadie Engelhardt visualized herself on a college campus, Carolina was not on her mind.

“I was going to go to this other school,” Engelhardt said. “I was going to do great things there.”

Until the junior made her first on-campus visit.

“As soon as I visited (North Carolina) State, it threw everything off,” Engelhardt said. “It went super well. I connected with the freshmen. I already knew most of them. It was obviously an amazing visit.

“I thought, ‘Wow, I actually really like it here.’ ”

Ventura High's running phenom liked it so much, she went back last month, taking her parents to the Raleigh campus after winning a pair of indoor events in Boston.

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“It was very clear that I was excited to go back,” Engelhardt said. “I was very excited to be back, hang out with the girls again and see the coaches again.”

By the time the trip was over, MileSplit's No. 1 track and field recruit in the Class of 2025 realized she had already subconsciously made her college decision.

“On the plane ride back,” Engelhardt said, “I just knew.”

Which is why Engelhardt donned an NC State sweatshirt on social media last weekend to make her verbal commitment public.

“I’m definitely relieved and happy,” said Engelhardt, who previously planned to announce her decision this fall.

“It’s definitely a weight off my shoulders. I feel like I’ve made the right decision, which is nice. There isn’t any doubt. My parents noticed how stressed I was just with the whole process. Just to have it over with and be able to focus on running now is really nice.”

The Star’s reigning All-County Girls Cross Country and Girls Track Runner of the Year is already a five-time California state champion.

She defended her CIF-State Division II cross country state championship in November, breaking Simi Valley High legend Sarah Baxter’s meet record. Last May, she swept the 1,600 and 800 meters at state, which hadn’t been done since 1975.

She is the reigning New Balance Nationals Indoor and Outdoor champion in the mile and is in Boston this weekend to defend her indoor title.

Engelhardt, who fell in love with running when she was introduced to the sport at Poinsettia Elementary School in Ventura, rose to national prominence by setting age-group national and world records as a Cabrillo Middle School student.

She chose the three-time defending women’s cross country national champions over virtually every other program in the country. She also took visits to Oregon, Stanford and Virginia.

“I loved every single one of my visits,” Engelhardt said. “That’s what made this decision super hard. … But I’m not making this decision for anyone else. This is my decision and where I’m going to be most happy.”

Engelhardt already has a rapport with NC State coach Laurie Henes.

“Honestly, it wasn’t a school I was originally going to contact,” Engelhardt said. “Once I talked to Coach Henes, we just hit it off.”

Sadie isn’t the only Engelhardt who Henes has won over. After the coach had dinner last year with Engelhardt and her parents, Engelhardt’s father Max, who played soccer at the University of Pennsylvania, told his daughter, “I think NC State would be a good fit for you.”

Engelhardt will arrive in Raleigh just as Katelyn Tuohy, the three-time Nike Cross National champion and 2022 NCAA national cross country champion, graduates.

She studied how Henes helped Tuohy develop into a professional.

“I liked how Coach Henes handled that, putting no expectations on her, letting her connect with the team and have fun. Now she’s pro. … That was appealing to me, how Coach Henes handled that pressure at a young age for Katelyn.”

Engelhardt will complete her winter season this weekend at New Balance Nationals Indoor in Boston, running in the 1-mile championship race Sunday morning.

She won a pair of races in Boston last month, winning the 1k in 2:41.00 at Boston University’s Bruce Lehane Scarlet & White Invitations on Feb. 3 and the mile in a personal-record 4:34.45 at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on Feb. 4.

“I feel like last season, it was really hard for me to get a PR,” Engelhardt said. “It just popped out early this season. That was nice.”

It wasn't just a PR. The time is the fastest run in the country this winter and is the third-fastest girls mile in high school history, just six seconds off the national record, according to MileSplit.

Engelhardt wants more Sunday.

“I’m honestly just trying to get another PR this weekend,” Engelhardt said.

When she returns home, she will begin the spring track season with the Sound Running Meet March 16 at JSerra Catholic High.

“I feel good,” Engelhardt said. “My training has been really good. (Ventura head coach Josh Spiker) has been super motivating in workouts. That just gives me confidence, having that support. I’m very excited. These next couple weeks should be awesome.”

Joe Curley is a staff writer for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura running superstar Engelhardt commits to North Carolina State