Sydney Thorvaldson of Rawlins Shines at National Running Event

Rawlins super-runner Sydney Thorvaldon of Rawlins has been sensational on the national circuit this season, and it continued last weekend.

She won two events at the prestigious Virginia Showcase in Virginia Beach. This meet is billed as the nation's largest indoor track meet and in the last four years, the event has produced 10 national records, three U20 world records, and more than 70 U.S. No.1 performances.

Thorvaldson competed in the One-Mile Invitational and took first with a time of 4.43.9 and edged Brooke Rauber of Syracuse, who is the #1 ranked high school cross country runner in New York State. This is an event that she normally doesn't run but turned in an elite time. In fact, it was the best time in the U.S. this season in the mile for a prep runner.

Thorvaldson also won the Two-Mile Invitational at the Virginia Showcase with a clocking of 9.47.95 and defeated Brynn Brown of Denton, Texas who ran 9.51. Brown was ranked 2nd in the nation in prep cross country.

Both times by Sydney were the fastest ever run at the VA Showcase. Her two-mile time was the second-fastest in high school (nationwide) history.

Thorvaldson is a University of Arkansas signee and is a four-time 3A cross country state champion and two-time 3A state champion in the 800, 1600, and 3200 meters in track and field. Her championship trophy collection would be much larger, but the 2020 track season was canceled due to the pandemic.