Sophia Kennedy_SL_083024_034

TFRRS Performance Profile

Career Accolades

  • Two-time NCAA West Region team XC champions (2022, 2023)
  • Two-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll (XC 2023; T&F spring 2023)

Personal Bests (thru 2023 outdoors)

  • 1,500: 4:30.71
  • Mile: 4:47.17i
  • 3,000: 9:30.69i
  • 5,000: 16:27.03
  • Steeplechase: 10:55.79
  • 800: 2:13.31i

As a Sophomore (2023-24)
Cross Country * NCAA West Region Champions

  • Placed 32nd at Pac-12 Championships
  • Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll

As a Freshman (2022-23)
Outdoors

  • Second in 5,000 at Cardinal Classic in collegiate outdoor debut in lifetime best 16:27.03
  • Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll

Indoors

  • Ran big 3,000 personal best of 9:30.69 before hometown crowd at Windy City Invitational
  • Made collegiate track debut in the 3,000 at the UW Indoor Preview

Cross Country * West Region Champions

  • Placed 28th at the Pac-12 Championships
  • Made collegiate debut at the USF Invitational

Prior to Stanford

  • Joined with three other Stanford recruits to run the fastest 4xMile in high school and U.S. U20 history
  • The time of 19:30.12 came at the Illinois Meet of Champions in March 2022
  • 18th at the 2021 Eastbay Cross Country Nationals 
  • Fifth at the 2022 Eastbay Midwest Cross Country Regionals
  • 2022 Illinois state cross country champ and 2A section champ
  • Undefeated in Illinois cross country as a junior and senior
  • A two-time Illinois 2A state champ in cross country and a two-time 2A state champ in the 3,200
  • She ran 10:18.77 for sixth in the two-mile at the Brooks PR Invitational in 2021
  • Ran 10:15.96 for two miles for the No. 4 indoor time in the country in 2021
  • Won the 2021 adidas Indoor Nationals in the mile, in 4:47.17
  • 2020 Gatorade Illinois Girls Cross Country Player of the Year
  • 11th in the 1,500 at the 2022 Brooks PR Invite
  • New Balance Outdoor Nationals freshman mile and two-mile champion in 2019
  • School record holder in three track events and two cross-country distances
  • The No. 13 recruit in the country for her class by MileSplit

Personal

  • Interested in majoring in math or computer science
  • Parents are Anu and Michelle Parekh
  • Mom was a sprinter at Boston College
  • Has a younger brother, Akili
  • Played varsity basketball at The Latin School as a freshman and sophomore
  • Was a competitive ski racer for 12 years

Career Results

YearSeason (Meets)EventSeason BestConf.RegionNCAA
2023-24Cross Country (4)6K20:21.432 (20:21.4)----
5K17:07.6------
2022-23Outdoors (6)5,00016:27.0328 (17:36.11)----
1,5004:34.02------
Steeple10:55.79------
Indoors (5)3,0009:30.69------
Mile4:52.43------
DMR11:29.76------
Cross Country (5)6K20:03.128 (20:03.1)54 (20:22.6)--
Ava Parekh_10142024_MG_3630 - Copy
2025
Distance