The track at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, is set to witness a slice of history as Boerne Champion High School's Elizabeth Leachman steps onto its storied surface for the U.S. Olympic Trials. Competing in the 5,000-meter run, Leachman, a sophomore, finds herself among the elite athletes vying for a chance to represent the United States in Paris. According to Express-News, the talented young runner is the only high school athlete to be included in the select field of 30.

Leachman, who made headlines by shattering the national outdoor record with a time of 15:25.27 at the Texas Relays, is not a stranger to setting new benchmarks. She has been rewriting the history books all year, also nabbing national records in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter events. Her impressive feats have even caught the attention of the track and field community nationally, as the field at the Trials will include notable names such as American record-holder Elise Cranny and Elinor Purrier, the world indoor champion in the 3,000-meter run, KSAT reported.

It's not just her speed that sets Leachman apart but also her philosophy towards the sport. "A big part of it is to just start enjoying the process," Leachman told Express-News in May. She stressed the importance of relishing every part of the journey, from training to competition, "if you are not enjoying it day in and day out, it’s just not sustainable and it’s not worth it."

The qualifiers on June 21, and potentially the finals slated for June 24, have the potential to catapult this young athlete into international stardom. All eyes will be on the Hayward Field track as it broadcasts across NBC, USA, and Peacock at 8:22 p.m. for the preliminaries, with the finals possibly putting Leachman into a tight race at 9:09 p.m., a mere three days later, according to KSAT. The challenge is stark – finish in the top three and book a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics, anything less, and the dream waits. But for Leachman, each step and each stride is part of the larger journey she so cherishes—win, lose, or draw.