Paige Sheppard, one of the most accomplished high school distance runners in New Jersey history, announced that she has committed to Stanford University to continue both her academic and athletic career. The Union Catholic junior, widely regarded as one of the nation’s top recruits in the Class of 2027, shared the news on Instagram while thanking her coaches, teammates, friends, and family for supporting her throughout her journey.
Sheppard owns state marks in the outdoor mile (4:33.67), indoor and outdoor 1600 meters (4:35.75 / 4:37.65), and indoor 800 meters (2:02.35).
One of the defining moments of her career came at the 2025 New Balance Nationals Outdoor Championships, where she ran a stunning 4:33.67 mile to defeat defending champion Sadie Engelhardt. The performance set a world best for a 15-year-old girl and ranked among the fastest times ever run by a U.S. high school athlete.
This season, she has delivered top results in the 800 meters, including the aforementioned New Jersey indoor state record of 2:02.35 while competing against professionals at the USATF Indoor Championships. She also opened the outdoor season in impressive fashion by winning against a loaded 800-meter field at Track Night NYC with a nation-leading time (2:02.37).
During the summer of 2025, she announced an NIL deal with New Balance.
