During her four years at Ipswich High School, Sarah Keiran has been able to run away from the competition on the cross country courses and indoor and outdoor tracks. Her performance in academics has been similar.

Finding a better combination of athletic prowess and academic achievement would be difficult.

In addition to her strength in and out of the classroom, Keiran is an excellent leader.

"Sarah has set a tremendous example of hard work and sportsmanship for the whole team to follow for years to come," Ipswich cross country coach Steve Bartholomew said. "During meets she is supportive of the team, and afterwards she always makes sure to thank the coaches and other runners on the opposing team. As a new coach I have personally relied on Sarah for ideas on places to run, workouts and being a leader. She has never let me down."

Keiran carries a 4.0 grade-point average and received the High Honors Award in her freshman, sophomore and junior years. She also earned Ipswich's Student-Athlete Award and the Distinguished Achievement Award those same years.

She is also a record-setting athlete. She currently holds school records in the 5K, indoor mile, indoor 1,000 meter, outdoor mile and outdoor two-mile.

Keiran will continue her running career at the University of New Hampshire next year. There's little doubt that she will continue to excel at the collegiate level, both on the track and in the classroom.

"Sarah's course load has been rigorous all four years, and her 4.0 GPA speaks to how well she has handled the demands of challenging courses and weighty workloads," Ipswich High School Guidance Counselor Rebecca Draper said. "She is well-respected by her teachers and her peers for her academic dedication and ability."