Saint Peter High School senior Keira Friedrich recently completed a season for the ages winning the Minnesota Class AA State Cross Country girls individual title at the University of Minnesota's Les Bolstad Golf Course in early November. It was the Saints’ first-ever state championship in the sport for either boys or girls.
(PICTURED ABOVE) The Saints' Keira Friedrich (second from left) stays with the leaders during the midway point of the Minnesota State Class AA Cross Country Meet back in early November at the U of M Golf Course in St. Paul. Friedrich would go on to win the race by 20 seconds to claim SPHS's first-ever state cross country title!
Friedrich, who signed recently to run long distance for the University of Minnesota, then traveled to Sioux Falls, SD, on November 9 where she placed 21st overall (out of 235 runners) in the Nike Cross Country Heartland Regional Meet. There she competed against some of the best high school runners from Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Kansas. Her top-25 placing earned her All-Heartland Regional honors, a fitting end to her high school career.
Saints’ fans will still get another season to enjoy watching her long-distance running talents as the four-time state medal winner in track and field, including a state title in the 1,600-meter run last spring, will take to the track in the spring of 2026.
Friedrich, who is also an A-student and a member of the SPHS National Honor Society chapter, recently took time from her busy schedule to share her thoughts on her Saints’ career and what is in store for her the rest of the school year. She also included some thoughts on her difficult decision of not doing both cross country and soccer, where she was also an all-state performerher junior year. The following is a Q&A profile with her:
What do you enjoy most about the sport of cross country?
One thing I love about cross country is that it allows me to push myself and see how much I can improve. I love the team dynamic of how the boys and girls teams are combined. It was fun to be able to train with the boys this year, instead of having to run by myself. I'm really proud of the success our team has had over the last four years!
How hard was it to make the decision to give up playing soccer after an all-state season your junior year?
There were a lot of factors that made the decision to quit soccer really difficult. Some of it included being elected captain and leaving behind teammates that I grew up playing soccer with and coaches who have believed in me since 8th grade. I also had my eyes on breaking the all time scoring record which was within reach.
What were your goals coming into the season, and did they change at all as the season unfolded?
As soon as I quit soccer, my goal was to win the state championship and it never changed.
What was it like to have your sister on your team, and do you two talk a lot about cross country when you're away from practice/meets?
It's been really fun being on the same team as Brielle! I feel like it's brought us closer! We talk about cross country and track a lot at home because we both just love the sports. I'm sure we'll stay connected once I leave for college and keep each other updated on our running!
What do you enjoy most about the Saints coaching staff (Coach Portugue and Coach Stuewe)?
They keep things fun and lighthearted. It's fun to listen to their stories from all their years of coaching.
What goals do you have for the 2026 track season?
I want to win another state championship. It would also be fun to win another True Team state championship with the team! I hope to improve my times and make it a little harder for Brielle to break my school records!
Your Mom and Dad were both college athletes, so how much influence have they had on your running career?
I grew up watching my parents run almost everyday. They normalized training and showed me how fun the sport can be! As I've got older they've helped me with training plans and race strategies.
How did you come to choose the University of Minnesota to continue your running career?
The gophers were the first BIG10 program to show interest in me before I ran 4:51 in the mile. I've always felt a strong connection with the coach and when I took my official visit I felt the same with the team. I knew I wanted to stay closer to home, and Minnesota felt like the perfect fit for me!
Any other thoughts & comments?
I'm really grateful for all the support I've received from the people from Saint Peter. No matter where running takes me, I'll always be proud of where I came from!
SPHS senior Keira Friedrich (middle) with her family at the November SPHS Signing Day event. Her family members include (l to r), Brielle (sister), Kellen (brother), Jennie (Mom), and Jed (Dad).