Freshman breaks school record in women’s cross country

Freshman Charlee Gall broke the Cedar Falls High School cross country record in late August at a meet at Prairie High School with a 5K time of 17:35, surpassing the previous record by more than a minute.

Gall aimed for a finish around 18 minutes but exceeded her expectations. She emphasized her dedication to her team and their success.

Regarding her motivations, Gall said, “My team. I wanted to do the best for them and the community. It’s very supportive.”

Gall comes from a family of accomplished athletes. Her father, Scott Gall, is an assistant coach for both the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams and owns Runners Flat, a shoe store. Her mother, Sarah Gall, a former track star, was inducted into the Cedar Falls Track Hall of Fame in 2003.

Despite their athletic backgrounds, Charlee’s parents support her choices. “They’ve helped me a lot. They encouraged me and said if I didn’t run, they’d be fine with it, but I appreciate them helping me through it,” she said.

Charlee broke the previous record of 18:39, set in 2016 by Cassidy Christopher. She said she believes she can improve her time even further.

During the race, Charlee focused on the finish line. “I wasn’t necessarily feeling anything; I just wanted to go out and see what I could do.”

Charlee and the cross country team will be next in action at the Rich Engel Classic at Pheasant Ridge in Cedar Falls on Sept. 19.