Sarah Walker (above) of Germantown Friends School signed with Stanford University, yesterday. Below is a submitted press release from GFS detailing the signing and her career.
November 18, 2015 -- Sarah Walker of Lower Gwynedd, a senior
at Germantown Friends School, signed an NCAA Letter of Intent with Stanford
University (Division I) for their Cross Country / Track & Field team today. Walker is one of the most successful runners
in the school's history, with a lengthy list of League, State, National and
International accomplishments to her name.
In her time at GFS, Walker has achieved the #3 all-time record in the state of Pennsylvania with a 2:03.70 for the 800m, won the 800m in Cuba earlier this year at the Caribbean Scholastic Invite, and earned All-American four times (2x 800m, 1x DMR, 1x SMR). She has been named All-State a total of eight times (six by the Pennsylvania Track & Field Coaches Association (PTFCA), and two by the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA). Walker holds six Friends Schools League (FSL) All-League honors across three sports (Soccer, Cross Country, and Track & Field). Her medals include a Silver in the 2015 New Balance Outdoor Nationals and a Bronze in the USA Track & Field (USATF) Jr. Nationals. Walker is an All-Time record holder for the PAISAA Track & Field State Meet (2.08.03), an all-time Friends Schools League (FSL) Meet Record Holder in the 400m, 800m and 1600m, and an All-Time GFS and FSL Record Holder in the 400m (56.05), 800m (2:03:70), 1600m (4:52:8), the 4x400 relay and the 4x800 relay.
Above: Walker (middle) is pictured with coaches Rob Hewitt, Phil Celona, and Tom Myran
Walker was joined by her parents, Stephen and Rebecca, for the ceremony in the Friends Free Library. GFS Director of Athletics Katie Bergstrom Mark remarked, "Attaining this goal has required sacrifice by Sarah and her family to commit to a year-round training schedule." Bergstrom Mark noted that Walker and her family opted to train exclusively with GFS coaches throughout her career and thanked the family for their trust. "Sarah has continued the GFS tradition of elite athletes who remain good teammates and supporters of our overall program. She shares her talents selflessly."
GFS Head Cross Country / Track & Field Coach Rob Hewitt spoke about his memories coaching Walker, her extraordinary talent and commitment, and the experience of accompanying her to Cuba this past spring.
"Only a handful of GFS graduates have gone on to compete at the Division I level, and we are so proud that Sarah took her dream to the highest level and attained her goal of a scholarship at Stanford University."
Above: Walker with her parents, Stephen and Rebecca Walker