Belmont Freshman Named Gatorade's Runner Of The Year

BELMONT, MA — Ellie Shea of Belmont High School has been named Gatorade's Massachusetts Girls Track & Field Player of the year - and the first to be chosen from Belmont High School.

The award is designed to showcase students who have outstanding athletic and academic ability, and also demonstrate exemplary character on and off the field.

A finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Player of the Year award, Shea joins state champions from 12 other sports.

The freshman set a state record in the 2-mile run with a time of 10:10.49 at the USATF New England Mini Meet on June 5, and in 2019, when she was in seventh grade, Shea was the Massachusetts Middle School state champion in the 800-meter run and 1,500-meter run.

Shea also volunteered at a local food pantry, giving her time to a non-profit farm in Maine, where her family vacations during the summer.

“Ellie is a phenomenal athlete,” said Rebecca Trachsel, head coach of Lexington High School. “I haven’t seen a runner of her caliber in our Middlesex League in quite some time. She’s incredibly driven and you can see it in her expression as she races. She’s there to fight.”

Shea maintains an outstanding 3.99 GPA while accomplishing all of this. She will begin her sophomore year of high school this fall.