Vause named Gatorade National XC Player of the Year

RIO RANCHO — A small crowd gathered on the Rio Rancho High School track in the early morning hours of Feb. 18. They were administrators, students, parents and friends of Rams star runner Charlie Vause.

As the big moment approached, the crowd hushed. The students hunched down behind the small brick wall ringing the track, hiding themselves from view. Media crowded to the side of the field, out of sight.

And then, voices could be heard coming up the stairs; first Vause and then Rams cross-country head coach Philip Keller.

Within moments, Charlie’s face appeared at the top of the steps.

Hand to the chest. Mouth agape. Eyes wide. A shout, “Are you serious?!”

Two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year and Olympic distance runner Grant Fisher strode up to the beaming Vause and handed him a large, golden trophy, the top emblazoned with Gatorade’s signature “G” logo.

“Unreal. I cannot believe this is actually happening right now,” said Vause as he was handed his trophy.

The crowd erupted and with that, Charlie Vause was named the 2024-25 Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Player of the Year.

“I had no idea what was going on,” Vause said later. “I saw [Fisher’s] hair, and then I saw people kneeling down with cameras, and I was like, ‘What?!’”

This announcement is a big deal. Last month, Vause was named the Gatorade New Mexico Cross Country Player of the Year. Gatorade takes all of their state winners and evaluates them, eventually deciding on just one; one player in the entire country to get the award.

This year, that player is Charlie Vause.

“The top honor in high school sports, Gatorade Player of the Year, celebrates the nation's best high school athletes for their success on the field, in the classroom and in their communities,” Gatorade said in a news release.

Vause shocked the running world this year (or at least, he shocked those who didn’t already know him) by winning the Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) in Portland, Oregon, on Dec. 7, 2024. Vause completed the race in muddy, wet conditions and was officially recognized as the 2024 boys cross-country national champion.

Vause continued to rack up big wins throughout the season, and last week, he announced his commitment to run for Brigham Young University (BYU) next season.

Now, to cap it all off, Vause has received high school athletics' top prize.

“It’s just a culmination of everything he’s worked for,” said Charlie’s mom. “He’s such an amazing human being. This is just icing on the cake. We are so grateful. He has a lot going for him.”

Keller seconded the notion, saying he is proud to see Vause getting the rewards for all of his hard work and proud of the program the Rams have built.

“I’m very happy for Charlie. It couldn’t happen to a better kid,” he said. “It’s a testament to the entire program, but it for sure has happened to a kid who definitely deserves it.”

Though Gatorade decided on Vause as the winner last week, a number of elements had to fall into place to keep the news a secret from the long-distance runner, hence the surprise party setup.

“My coach said something about replacing the high jump pit and he needed some muscle,” said Vause. “And I was like, ‘Well alright, you called the right guy.’ And then I saw Grant Fisher at the top of the stairs, and I was like, ‘What’s going on!?’”

Keller said Vause’s stubborn tenacity and studious attention to his schoolwork as well as his athletic pursuits are what got him where he is, but those same traits also made it difficult to pull off the surprise.

“The hardest thing was keeping him in his seat,” said Keller, speaking of trying to keep Vause distracted, but not suspicious, on Tuesday morning as Gatorade set up for the announcement. “He kept trying to go to class. I had to tell him a couple of times, ‘Sit down. You aren’t going anywhere.’”

With this selection, Vause joins the ranks of some of the sport’s all-time greats. Lukas Verzbicas, the U.S. high school national record holder in the 2-mile run, is a past recipient, as is 17-time NCAA champion Edward Cheserek.

“More than a trophy, Gatorade Player of the Year celebrates the next generation unlike anyone else, from one-on-one time with their favorite pros to stylized photoshoots and participation in community initiatives,” said Gatorade.

After the camera flashes stopped going off and the media backed away, the crowd moved in. Friends packed around Vause and backslaps, smiles and high-fives were all given freely and in abundance.

Vause took in all the love and gave it right back. He hugged and posed and laughed. And when it was all over, the nationally recognized top high school boys runner in the country had one thing to say, “Thank you so much, you guys. Now, I gotta get to class!”