At just 21 years old, one of NC State’s premier distance runners, already a seven-time All-American, has delivered the kind of announcement that silences a season’s worth of adrenaline. The track and field star, who lit up the spring track circuit with historic times and championship performances, was widely expected to compete at the upcoming US Championships. Instead, she has been forced to prioritize long-term health over short-term glory…

As she announced today, Grace Hartman has chosen to withdraw, revealing an injury at work as the reason behind her choice. The decision, she says, did not come easily. In an Instagram post, she wrote: “Sometimes the decision that feels like weakness is a sign of strength. This isn’t the wrap-up post I ever dreamed of, but it’s the one I’m choosing to make.” After a demanding NCAA season, the Ohio native had reached a new level of fitness, pushing her limits in training with expectations of contending against the country’s best. However, during a 5000-meter race in Los Angeles, she aggravated an existing foot issue that ultimately made the idea of racing 25 laps untenable. “Although I’m still able to run,” she explained, “I can’t in good conscience choose to race 25 laps at USAs knowing it could jeopardize my ability to show up for my team during cross country.”

This turn comes after one of the most decorated campaigns in recent collegiate track history. She broke the program, facility, and meet record in the 10,000 meters at the Raleigh Relays with a personal best of 31:20.60, making her the third-fastest performer in NCAA history. At the Duke Twilight, she clocked 14:58.11 in the 5000 meters, becoming the fourth-fastest in NCAA history and setting both ACC and NC State program records. She claimed the ACC title in the 5000 meters, running 15:12.03 and rewriting the championship record books.

Her postseason results were just as formidable. At the NCAA Championships, she placed second in the 10,000 meters (31:32.15) and fifth in the 5000 meters (15:35.29), earning First Team All-American honors in both events. These efforts secured her the title of 2025 ACC Outdoor Track Women’s Performer of the Year, and she was also awarded NC State’s prestigious H.C. Kennett Award, given to the university’s top athlete.

Still, she chose to step back, citing the necessity of rest and the deeper importance of recovery. “My body and mind need time to heal, and right now that feels like weakness. I know this doesn’t have to be all that serious, but this sport is raw and emotional, and sometimes it’s nice to see the ups and downs of people’s journeys.” She closed her note by emphasizing the people around her—“My people will hug me on my best days, and hug me even harder on my worst ones. They value my well being, and longevity over everything.”

With cross country season on the horizon and a long career still ahead, the junior from Oakwood, Ohio, is already listening for the next signal. “It’s been a beautiful season that I’m beyond blessed to have had, but the hills are calling.” Although Grace Hartman had to put a pause to her track quest, her previous records indeed prove her indomitable nature.

When Grace Hartman smashed 10K record en route to NCAA silver in an all-time classic

Grace Hartman did not arrive in Eugene to chase history, but the NCAA women’s 10,000-meter championship demanded it anyway. In a race that rewrote the expectations for collegiate distance running, Hartman, now a junior at North Carolina State, delivered a performance of unshakable composure and force, finishing second in 31 minutes, 32.15 seconds. That mark would have shattered the meet record in any other year. This time, it earned her silver behind New Mexico’s Pamela Kosgei and placed her among the most formidable 10K runners in NCAA history.

From the opening kilometer, the tempo threatened the old standard. Hartman did not react impulsively but allowed the early leaders to test the limits, conserving through the middle laps with a seasoned runner’s restraint. It was in the final third of the race, as bodies began to betray ambition, that Hartman found her rhythm. She reeled in competitors one by one, closing with the equivalent of two 5Ks in 15:46. Though Kosgei held firm at the front, Hartman’s surge separated her from a field that ultimately saw its top five finishers all surpass the previous NCAA meet record. She crossed the line fourteen seconds under that benchmark, undaunted and precise.

The performance capped a junior season defined by both championship success and academic exactitude. In the months leading to Thursday’s final, Hartman secured titles at both the ACC and Southeast Regional cross country meets, and placed fifth at the NCAA nationals. She also maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA as a psychology major. Her athletic results, however, now demand attention of a different kind. They place her squarely among the finest collegiate distance athletes of her era—one who did not chase history, but met it stride for stride.