On April 8, Tatum Berg added one of Colorado Running Hall of Fame’s 2025 High School Achievement awards to her long list of high school running achievements. She accepted her award at Denver Athletic Club where she was recognized for her athletic achievements, but also for her community leadership and character.
This program was started in 2010 when the High School Athlete Recognition Program was founded. Now, Berg adds her name to the long list of accomplished Colorado high school girl runners, such as Addison Ritzenhein of Niwot, Isabelle Allori of Liberty Commons, and Brooke Wilson of Valor Christian, who have all been recognized by the Colorado Running Hall of Fame.
“I was so excited when I heard that I was receiving this award,” Berg said. “Colorado has such an insane level of talent when it comes to distance running, so to be recognized in this way means so much to me.”
Berg has been an influential varsity runner on Fossil’s team since her freshman year, and she now holds the school records in the 1600 (4:53), 3200m (10:32), 5k (17:12), and 5 mile (41:36). Berg ranked fourth individually at the 5A Colorado State Cross Country Championships this past fall season, and has won every event she has run so far in track this season.
“Tatum has an eye for a tactical race and understands how to win, but she would always prefer to do it by running her hardest,” said Fossil’s cross country coach Dani Cook. “This desire to pursue her limits has helped our team to follow her lead.”
Berg led the girls team to Fossil’s first Nike Cross Nationals appearance this year where they finished eighth in the nation, and Berg placed 45th overall. Her team placed third at state this past cross country season, and looks to place in the top three for state track again this season.
“Our team is extremely close knit. Through our travels together and countless races, we have become each other’s best friends,” said teammate Anya Gorely. “Tatum is such a motivation to all of us. She is one of the hardest working people I know, and she demonstrates that through her dedication to the sport.”
Berg has also committed to running at Colorado State University, where she will continue her academic and athletic career. She is joining the accomplished collegiate women’s team, which placed third at the Mountain West Cross Country Championships and finished seventh at the NCAA Mountain Region Cross Country race this past cross country season.
“I fell in love with the CSU team the second I met everyone,” Berg said. “I really like their vibe and I felt like they shared a lot of the same values and goals that I have.”
In order to be an elite athlete, Berg trains like one. On top of her school team’s running, she cross train swims twice a week and lifts once a week. During her off season, she trains with the Peak Performance training club. She also focuses a lot on her diet, making sure she is fueled properly.
“Fueling my body is probably the most important thing that I do outside of running,” Berg said. “I make sure that I’m getting all the right nutrients before and after I workout so that I recover properly.”
With all of her accomplishments, Berg finds her motivation to keep pushing herself by competing against Colorado’s impressive field of high school girl runners. This, coupled with her drive for success, fuels her to continue chasing her goals.
“I am so grateful to have so many amazing and talented competitors when I toe the line,” Berg said. “We are always pushing each other to be better and it’s so cool to see how far we’ve come since we entered high school.”
Coming to the end of her high school career, Berg hopes to add a state title to her name this track season.
Looking forward, she is excited to have fun running collegiately and will get ready to run the steeplechase for the first time in December.
“I have a lot of things that I’m looking forward to with running: a state title is definitely something I’m chasing,” Berg said. “I would say that I am most excited to start my collegiate career at CSU.”
