8th Grade Distance Runner Grace Ping!

Although Grace Ping may be only thirteen years old, she has broken seven different world records.

- Olivia Stein

Grace Ping's most recent world record was set at the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot in a time of 16:36 for the 5k. She was 16th in the professional women’s field and set a new world record for 13 year old girls.

At the New Balance Nationals last June she placed second in a loaded field. Her time of 16:44.80 smashed the old record by ten seconds. When Youth Runner asked her how she felt about this performance she said, “I feel less nervous when running against faster girls or good competition.” The following day, she finished seventh in the two mile with a time of 10:28.66. This time broke her previous world record, and also Jordan Hasay’s record for thirteen year olds by five seconds.

Outside from setting age group records, Grace Ping has many other accomplishments to be proud of. Last year as a 7th grader while competing with Cotter High school, Grace won the Minnesota Section 1A race with a time of 17:48, over two minutes faster than second place. A week and a half later she became Minnesota’s youngest state champion by winning the Class A race in 17:52. After the state meet, Grace continued to race and compete well.