Sarah Carter Finds Her Rhythm Beyond the NCAA System

​Sarah Carter arrived at the University of Washington as one of Arizona’s brightest young distance talents. A Division I state champion in cross country, she left Phoenix for Seattle with a clear trajectory: compete, progress, go pro. Instead, injuries and a coaching change derailed her freshman and sophomore seasons. Weeks before the semester ended, she was cut from the team.

​Advised by some to step away from competitive running, Carter chose otherwise. She entered the NCAA transfer portal and began searching for a mountain program that aligned with her long-term vision.

On the drive to a summer job, she stopped at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to run a trail half marathon, a spontaneous decision she now describes as pivotal.

The race, she says, reminded her why she started running.

​Carter transferred to Colorado State University, where she rebuilt both confidence and performance.

Over five years, she lowered her 5,000 meter personal best from 17 minutes to 15:44.

Encouraged by her coach to consider professional running, she pivoted toward trail racing after graduation.

​Her breakthrough came at Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB in 2024, her first 50k, where she discovered what she calls a natural rhythm on steep climbs.

In 2025, as a Topo athlete, she placed 15th overall female and third American at UTMB’s OCC.

​Sometimes losing a spot on a roster is the moment an athlete finally finds where she truly belongs.