Ruby Ihmels

BISMARCK  –  When the starter’s pistol sounds at a North Dakota cross country meet, spectator eyes instinctively shift to the front of the pack to spot the effortless, fluid cadence of Bismarck Century standout Ruby Ihmels.
For the past two seasons, finding her hasn't taken long. As the two-time reigning Class A individual state champion, Ihmels has cemented herself as one of the premier prep distance runners in the nation. Entering the final stretch of her high school cross country career, she has an opportunity to step into rare territory: becoming the first Class A runner to capture three consecutive individual state titles sinceJamestown standout Meghan Ford achieved the feat a few years back. Yet, despite the historical stakes and high-profile recognition, Ihmels operates with a composed maturity that treats every major milestone as simply part of a bigger journey.“
I definitely have different race plans depending on what meet it is, and where I’m at in the season,” Ihmels said. “I like to think of each race as a checkpoint as I work towards championship season. When there are a lot of nerves, I lean into my team, and I hope that they lean into me.”
Elite distance running is stitched deep into the Ihmels family tree. Her father, Corey, authored his own storied North Dakota running legacy, winning three-straight state cross country titles at Williston before putting together an All-American collegiate career and coaching at the NCAA Division I level. When the family moved to Bismarck from Idaho a few years ago, it marked both a return to family roots and a seamless transition into a welcoming local running culture.
“It definitely was a little bit of a transition moving here, but it was honestly a lot better than I thought it was going to be,” Ihmels said. “I think it helps being in a sport because the team just immediately welcomed me and my brother into Century. I also think the running community here is super welcoming, and I think Wil and I really noticed and appreciated the support, even from people we didn’t know. It was also super great coming here to be with family, and getting to go to school with my cousins.”
Sharing that leap with her brother, Wil, made the relocation even sweeter. During the 2024 state meet, the siblings pulled off a family double, each winning Class A individual titles on the same afternoon—Ruby’s first state crown.
“Wil and I had a class together, which is something we’d always wanted to do, so that was super fun as well,” Ihmels recalled. “I love the team aspect of cross country, so meeting and getting to know all my new teammates was super fun. I love them all so much.”
Despite her pedigree, long-distance racing wasn't forced on her early.
“I honestly did a lot of different sports and activities growing up,” Ihmels noted. “I think both my brother and I ended up just falling in love with running just like our parents. I did a few races here and there when I was younger, but didn’t start doing cross country until seventh grade, and then I truly committed to it in eighth grade when I stopped doing competitive dance.”
Once she traded dance shoes for running spikes, the work ethic translated instantly. The appeal lies in the sport's quiet, solitary grind.
“I think that it’s exciting to push yourself and see your progress,” she said. “It’s really cool to look back on my younger self and know that she would be so proud of what I’m accomplishing. I love going out on a long run or doing a hard workout. It’s super rewarding, and although there's a lot of ups and downs in the sport, it’s all worth it when you have that breakthrough moment.”
Casual observers see the runaway victories, but Bismarck Century head coach Kate Fox sees the relentless behind-the-scenes intentionality that creates those margins.
“Ruby is very disciplined in her routines. She does all of the little stuff—diet, recovery, sleep, etc.,” Fox said. “And most importantly, she is so passionate. She is driven beyond belief, and she has very big goals. Those goals motivate her daily to do everything right.”
That preparation centers around smart, structured volume that respects the training curve.
“For my training, I do a lot of mileage, with an emphasis on threshold and hills,” Ihmels explained. “I make sure I run my easy days easy, so that I can adequately recover and be ready for my next workout. I think that making sure to take your easy days easy is something a lot of runners don’t do, but is something that has always just been second nature to me, growing up with my parents always running and emphasizing ‘time on feet’ instead of how fast you’re going.”
Fox echoes that mature restraint.
“She is really good about her process. She knows when to bring it. She does each workout as designed—easy days easy, hard days hard. She listens to her body and communicates with the staff.”
Recovery receives just as much attention as workout splits.
“Nutrition and sleep is so important and has had a big role in my success,” Ihmels said. “I make sure to get at least nine to 10 hours of sleep a night, and also make sure to eat three meals a day along with a lot of snacks.”
That standard has translated into sparkling results against national-caliber competition when Ihmels travels out of state to challenge herself against the country’s top fields.“I absolutely love racing at regional and national meets. It’s so fun to get to challenge yourself and race in new places,” Ihmels said. “I’ve been able to meet a lot of incredible runners, and have made so many memories competing at those levels.”
Even when running out front in local meets, her internal drive never wanes.
“Her goals keep her in check,” Fox explained. “She knows how to work hard, but there is always a ‘next.’ She knows she wants the next PR, the next title, the next step to her future. Her goals are very long term, and she has tunnel vision. She is very ‘eyes on the prize’ even if it isn’t right in front of her.”
While Ihmels' individual resume is unmatched, her broader impact on Century’s roster—a program numbering over 60 runners—has elevated the entire Patriots squad.
“She fit right in instantly, Fox said. "We had our system and way of doing things, and she bought into all of it. She is very easy to be around, and a fun athlete to have influence the younger girls. While our group is very motivated, it has been easier for them to see their goals in action when they have someone like that to follow. She helped the girls see what they are capable of.”
Her leadership style is rooted in visible habits and everyday accessibility.
“Lead by example,” Fox said. “Each athlete witnesses her rolling out, stretching, drinking water, etc. It is one thing to tell athletes how to be, it is another for them to live it. You want to be like Ruby? Start doing all the little things. She is also so approachable and makes a point to talk to her teammates. It isn’t running all the time. They talk about life and their days; they keep it light. If it was all running all the time, we wouldn’t have the team culture we do.”
For Ihmels, building up her teammates has been just as gratifying as medal or trophy.
“I think it’s super fun to be able to be a team leader, especially since our team is still relatively young,” Ihmels said. “We had a lot of middle schoolers on our state team my first year, so it was fun to help them dive into high school racing.”
Collegiate programs are actively pursuing the Century senior, though she is still exploring options before making her official commitment. Off the course, her profile is just as strong: she excels in the classroom, prioritizes friends and family, and brings what 
Fox describes as “good vibes, all the time.”
“I am very excited to see what her future holds,” Fox said. “She is one of the most motivated people I have ever met. Family is important, friends are important, and she’s such a genuinely happy person.”
As she rounds the final turns of her prep cross country career, the pursuit of a third state title remains on the horizon. But when asked what will linger most once the finish line is crossed, Ihmels looks right back to the pack running alongside her.
“I think I’m mostly going to miss my teammates, and just running with them every day,” she said. “There’s obviously some courses and favorite meets that I’ll miss as well, but mostly just the girls I’m running with.”

Photo: Taylor Schmitt Photography