BYU sophomore Nelah Roberts is a four-time cross country state champion from Idaho Falls, Idaho.
She is the first and only woman in state history to win state all four years of high school.
Roberts grew up running, but was more invested in other sports like soccer. Though not initially set on being a runner, her dad convinced her to give cross country a try once she entered high school.
"I did high school cross country and ended up winning state my freshman year and doing really well. I was like, 'This is something I could legitimately pursue,'" said Roberts.
Her coach, Sean Schmidt, did not expect what Roberts would bring to his team that year. Schmidt knew about Roberts from coaching her older siblings, but didn't think anything out of the ordinary with her arrival.
"As a junior high athlete, she was good, but not the top," said Schmidt.
As practices went on, Schmidt recognized Roberts' potential. Roberts would go on to win the Jackson Hole Invitational and the Idaho Falls City meet.
Then came the state championship meet. As Roberts was fighting for the first-place spot, Schmidt said that she "looked bored."
"You know when a high school kid has to go to a party with their parents and has to sit at the dinner table? She looked like that," said Schmidt.
As Schmidt pushed her to run harder, she began to look more excited. He kept pushing her every half-mile of the race until she won the race.
"I dropped every other sport and fully committed to it," said Roberts.
Though there were ups and downs for her, Roberts went on to win the state cross-country title every year after that. On top of her impressive cross-country titles, she also won nine Idaho state titles for track and field events.
Roberts was sought out by several colleges, like Tennessee and Oklahoma State, but ultimately decided to come to BYU. While she was hesitant at first, she has no regrets coming to Provo.
"This is so cheesy … but the spirit and the whole vibe on campus and among the girls was different from any other school," said Roberts.
Since being at BYU, Roberts has set the No. 9 all-time BYU record in the indoor 5000m with a 15:43.07. She placed fifth in the 5000m at the 2025 Big 12 indoor championships and fifth in the 3000m steeplechase at the Big 12 outdoor championships.
Roberts most recently ran at the Stanford Invitational in the 10,000m race with a time of 32:47.57.
After college, Roberts looks to run professionally and further her running career.