When Ella Bahn stepped into the AAU Junior Olympics in Greensboro, North Carolina, she had no idea how she would perform. Natural feelings of nervousness and uncertainty entered his thoughts; after all, who wouldn’t be nervous before competing against some of the best athletes in the country for their age?
The 14-year-old was also in North Carolina to compete in one of the program’s toughest Olympic events. The Junior AAU Pentathlon, consisting of the 100-meter hurdles, shot put, high jump, long jump and 800-meter run, is a part of the largest national multi-sport event for youth in the United States.
After earning a spot through her AAU regional qualifier in Philadelphia, Bahn wasn’t deterred from competing at her best. Still, it was a surprise for her when she took third place in the pentathlon, heading home with a bronze medal and the right to be called an All-American.
“I’m very proud of what I did,” Bahn said. “Going into it, of course I was nervous and I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen, but I’m glad I went for it in the end. I loved having the opportunity to compete with other pentathletes and see where I stand compared to people who have talents similar to mine.”
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Even her parents said they were surprised by the results of their daughter’s performance.
“We were so proud. We didn’t know how she would stack up against other top athletes on a hot day in a place she’d never been,” said Brian Bahn, Ella’s father and cross country coach. “The girls there are serious. You really have to focus in that environment and what she did was outstanding.”
Bahn has only been running track since seventh grade, but she was an established athlete thanks to her experience in gymnastics. He started when he was only 2 years old at a place called Champions and has been doing it ever since. She currently competes in XCEL Sapphire at Skyline Gymnastics.
The high school freshman excelled in the sport, winning multiple state championships at the 2022 XCEL state gymnastics meet. She placed first on beam, second on bars, second on vault, eighth on floor and first in the all-around.
Bahn said gymnastics has helped with her balance and her ability to run on the track.
“I think gymnastics has honestly helped me with all of my athleticism. It’s really nice to have learned that kind of coordination and agility at a young age and be able to apply it to other sports,” she said. “Gymnastics has helped me especially with hurdles and jumping on the track.”
Competing at such a high level at her age has allowed Bahn to handle the pressure of competing against other top athletes.
“My favorite part about gymnastics is that it never gets old,” she said. “I’m constantly learning new, more difficult skills and it gives me a chance to challenge myself.”
Bahn established herself as one of York County’s top up-and-coming athletes long before entering high school. In addition to her gymnastics background, she took her first steps into the world of running with the Trojan Track Club near York Suburban. The Trojan Club has given him the opportunity to test himself against some of the best runners in the region. Brian Bahn said his daughter has benefited from her time there and has already formed relationships with several of the other runners.
Ella Bahn always knew she would do athletics; after all, both of his parents are track coaches. His mother, Tara, works at Hanover High School, while Brian has been the cross country coach at Spring Grove for the past 12 years. Ella’s parents called her “The Cheetah” when she was young.
The Rockets athlete has not slowed down. Just a few weeks into her high school cross country career, she was first overall during Spring Grove’s Sept. 9 meet with New Oxford in Dover. He completed the course with a time of 21:37.9. Bahn then made school history by running a 19:53.68 for the 5K Ben Bloser Bulldog XC Invitational in Big Spring. This is the second-fastest time in Spring Grove history, an especially impressive feat in just his third time running a 5K.
The Rockets have home games Tuesday against Central York, West York and Littlestown.
Despite the multi-sport success, Bahn has remained humble by setting realistic goals for his high school journey.
“I would love to end up with my name on the discus board at our track for at least one event,” he said. And there’s plenty of time for Bahn to reach that goal before he graduates in 2026.
Bahn said he also hopes to do more experiences like the pentathlon in Greensboro, but also wants to focus on his other activities.
“I love competing at this level in track, but I don’t want it to be the only thing I do with my life,” she said. “I still want to have time for gymnastics and other hobbies.”
With Bahn currently playing multiple sports, her parents hope to help their daughter not burn out. Her mother earned a degree in kinesiology from Penn State and helps keep her healthy during her competitive seasons. So far, the process has been successful at all levels.
“The idea is not to push it too hard,” Brian Bahn said. “Doing cross country and seeing how many miles she runs a week. Sometimes coaches and parents push them too soon. We don’t want to do that. The important part is, you’re having a good time and keeping her focused.”
