Indiana Running Legends Panel

Come hear the state’s greatest runners in one panel, moderated by Derek Leininger

We are honored to present a panel of some of Indiana's best runners and coaches at Three Rivers Running Company. Join us Saturday, August 1st to hear a panel discussion and participate in a Q&A with athletes Anna (Rohrer) Heiny, Cohen Brunson, Taegan McKinney and coach Luke Miller.

Anna (Rohrer) Heiny 

Anna Rohrer (Heiny) graduated from Mishawaka High School in 2015 as a 2x cross country state champion and state record holder, 4x track and field state champion, 2x Foot Locker and 2x New Balance national champion amidst severe foot injuries that sidelined Anna in a wheelchair during her junior year. As a senior, Anna set a high school national record in the indoor 5000m, became the first female in Indiana history to break the 10 minute barrier in the 2 mile, and was awarded the Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2014-2015.

Anna attended the University of Notre Dame, earning her BA in Neuroscience & MS in Business management while winning 5 ACC Conference championships and becoming an 9x All American between track and cross country. Post-collegiately, Anna ran professionally for the Boston Athletic Association and qualified for the 2024 Olympic trials, running the fastest female marathon time in Indiana history.

Currently, Anna works as a mental consultant and running coach in addition to her full-time job of being a mom of two little boys.

Cohen Brunson 

Cohen Brunson started running in the second grade to be more like his dad, Josh Brunson, who was the original General Manager of Three Rivers Running Company. A decade later, the two hoisted the State Championship trophy together at the Lavern Gibson Cross Country Course. 

Over Cohen’s four years running for the Chargers, they placed 25th at State his freshman year, 22nd his junior year, 15th his sophomore year, and ultimately won the State Championship in his senior year. Cohen was also the second most improved male runner in the state tournament from 2025 to 2026. 

He qualified for New Balance Nationals as a freshman and holds PRs of 1:58 in the 800 and 15:40 in the 5k. He has committed to continuing his academic and running careers at Indiana University Indianapolis next fall. 

Taegan McKinney 

Taegan McKinney joined cross country in 2nd grade and has been obsessed with the sport ever since. He is from Fort Wayne but moved to Florida his sophomore year. He moved back the second half of his junior year and rejoined the Chargers team that he says is a “team of guys who have put in the same work and effort as I have.”

He holds PRs of 1:58 in the 800, 4:25 in the 1600, and 15:09 in the 5k. He was the Flashrock Invitational Champion, placed 4th at the Sectional, 5th at the Regional, and 7th at the State meet as part of a trio of Chargers in the top 10. He has committed to continuing his academic and running careers at Indiana University Indianapolis next fall. 

 

Coach Luke Miller 

 

Derek Leininger holds a PhD in Education and is the Principal of Arlington Elementary. Derek coached cross country and track for over 13 years including a 10-year stint as the head coach at Snider High School. Derek and his wife Gwen are the authors of the book Enduring Wisdom: Lessons from Indiana's Championship High School Cross Country Coaches. He also wrote the book Breaking Down the Wall about training 400 runners with legendary Coach Clyde Hart of Baylor University. Derek is one of the founding members of Indiana Runner, the foremost site for Indiana high school running. He lives in Fort Wayne with his wife Gwen and their two daughters, Georgia and Jane.