 After graduating from Canyon High School in Los Angeles suburb of Santa Clarita, California, Fleshman attended Stanford University, where she graduated in 2003.At Stanford, Fleshman was a 15-time All-American and five-time NCAA champion.She won consecutive NCAA outdoor national titles in the 5,000 meters in 2001, 2002 and 2003, and won the 2002 NCAA indoor 3000-meters.