MileSplit50 Individual Girls XC Rankings Countdown

21.

Athlete: Victoria Starcher

Year: Junior, Class of 2020

School: Ripley (WV)

Analysis: Starcher's impressive rise last season came on the heels of her first season on grass, ever. And it was impossible to ignore the significance of her efforts, racking up six sub-18 minute outings at the 5K distance throughout the season, including a second-place finish at Foot Locker South, where she set a career best time of 17:28.00 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Starcher also won her first state title in West Virginia and scored a big win early in the season at the adidas XC Challenge. That debut led her to Foot Locker Nationals, where she was 29th on the difficult Balboa Park course in San Diego. 

That debut was no fluke, though. Starcher only continued her special sophomore season on the track, where she won a 1600m title in 4:49.14 and a 3200m championship in 10:29.87. She also showed tremendous speed, logging a 2:07.42 in the 800m, which ranked as the No. 9 fastest time in the country. 

Expectations are much higher in 2018 for the athlete, who has the potential to make even more of a statement in the cross country ranks in 2018.