Victoria Chang

Honolulu

Punahou School,

Hawaii

Impact Statement

“I don’t want to take credit for it all because everyone helped me, but I definitely put in the work.”
–Victoria Chang

Biography

Chang was the state cross country champion as a senior, then ascended to national recognition by winning the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships in December. Chang ran the 3.1-mile course in a record time of 3:05.8, 17 seconds faster than the previous record set by Erin Sullivan in 1997. Chang won the race by nine seconds.

“Athletes like Victoria Chang are among the success stories produced in high school athletics today,” NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro said. “She has worked extremely hard to develop her skills and has become one of the best cross country runners not only in the state of Hawaii, but the entire nation, and we are proud to be honoring her.”

Chang also was a four-time state champion in the 1,500- and 3,000-meter runs, leading Punahou High to the state track and field team title all four years. She set state records in both events as a junior in 1999, running the 1,500 in 4:38.83 and the 3,000 in 9:38.03.

Chang accepted an athletic scholarship to Stanford University and later transferred to the University of Hawai’i. She also graduated from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii.