Anoush Shehadeh ’15 was named Gatorade Massachusetts Cross Country Runner of the Year on Wednesday. Shehadeh is the first Phillips Academy athlete to receive the prestigious award.
“It felt really good to win the award. It’s crazy to think about the caliber of the athletes that have won this award in the past and it’s just the cherry on top of the cherry [on] the top of my cross country season—that I wish wasn’t over,” said Shehadeh.
Shehadeh will move on to the final round of the competition, where she will compete for the Gatorade National Cross Country Runner of the Year title. Shehadeh was nominated for the award by The Gatorade Company.
The award, which was established in 1985, recognizes “the nation’s most outstanding high school talents for their athletic achievement, academic excellence and exemplary character,” according to the Gatorade website. The selection process is administered by The Gatorade Company in collaboration with USA Today High School Sports.
Shehadeh, who began her cross country career only two years ago, captured second place at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional Championships in November with a time of 17:38. A month later, she placed 4th in the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships (FLCCC) to secure her spot as one of fifteen High School All-Americans. Shehadeh was unable to complete the race last year due to injury.
Shehadeh is also a two-time NEPSTA Division I Cross Country Champion. Over the course of two seasons, she has broken six course records, beaten college athletes, and been named “Emerging Elite” by the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation.
Her Andover course record, 17:18, is 42 seconds faster that that set by Melissa Donais ’01 over ten years ago. Donais beat Olympian Shalane Flanagan at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional Championships in 1999.
Shehadeh has never lost a NEPSAC Cross Country race.
“Anoush arrived to the sport of running with a lot of natural talent. Over the past two years she has trained consistently and channeled her motivation toward very specific goals,” said Girls’ Cross Country Head Coach Becky Hession.
This winter, Shehadeh will focus on recovering from a groin injury she suffered while skiing.
“I’m not doing much running right now. I’m just focusing on running easy and giving my body a break and a long rest/recovery to fuel itself back up for outdoor track. I’m not sure what I’m expecting in track but hopefully I’ll be healthy, strong, and fast,” said Shehadeh.
Next fall, Shehadeh will assume the role of co-captain of Andover’s Girls’ Cross Country team.
