Winner: Payton Butterfield

School: Pickerington North

Quote: “I loved seeing all the girls working together and fighting up the Wooster hills, and the feel of the race was awesome. As for my running goals, I’d just love to keep working towards my best. Every race is an opportunity."

Highlight:

Pickerington North junior Payton Butterfield has strung together four consecutive PRs to start the 2025 season. The third of those came at the Wooster Invite, where she ran 19:30—a one-minute drop that earned her this week’s Runner of the Week award. In her season debut, Butterfield clocked a PR of 20:30. A PR in a season opener is always a promising sign, but Butterfield has far exceeded expectations.

“Every race is an opportunity for growth, and I just want to keep raising the bar for what’s possible,” Butterfield said when asked about her race and season goals. She has clearly embraced this mindset, with the next target being the 19-minute barrier. Beyond her individual progress, her maturity as a teammate has stood out.

“I loved seeing all the girls working together and fighting up the Wooster hills… I love working together as a team, and I can’t wait to see what [Pickerington] North does this year!” With Butterfield as their leader, Pickerington North is in good hands for the rest of this year and heading into next. Expect her to make an even bigger impression this postseason.