Presenting our newest feature: The Future Stars Series. In this series, we'll take a look at one freshman or sophomore a week that is making a big impact early in their career, and is showing that they are a star in the making.
Hannah Rae Shaffer is no stranger to the spotlight. The Cardinal Gibbons freshman has already placed top-three at the state meet three times: 2021 cross country (2nd), indoor 1,000 (2nd), and indoor 1,600m (3rd). During the cross country season she took home the Team Southeast Regional's individual crown at WakeMed, clocking 17:44. She went on to run a personal best 17:19 at Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championships in Alabama. Her cross country best was NC No. 1 last season, and placed her NC freshman class No. 2 all-time behind Wesley Frazier (Ravenscroft '13).
During indoor season she was NC class No. 1 in the 1,000m, 1,600m, one mile, and two mile runs. She set the state freshman class records for the 1,000m (2:55.79), 1,600m (4:54.08), and two mile run (10:31.89). She was also US class No. 1 in the 1,600m during indoor season.
Shaffer is chasing her first individual title during outdoor season, but she is also apart of a very strong Cardinal Gibbons 4x800m team that has a real chance of gunning for the state title in the event.