This weekend the top girls from 13 states will compete for 10 spots in the Footlocker national championship. Here are some of the top girl participants slated to compete.
Mimi Smith- Illinois- Smith is a state champ in Illinois. She was 20th in this race last year and recently finished 7th at NXN Midwest, missing NXN Nationals by one spot. She has run as fast as 16:43 for three miles, which should set her up for shot to get to San Diego.
Mailin Struck- Illinois- Struck is also a state champ from Illinois, clocking 16:35 for three miles. She has only lost once all year. She has not raced anywhere in the postseason, but she should be a strong contender to make it out.
Kelcy Welch- Indiana- Welch is an Indiana state champ who recently punched her ticket to NXN with a fourth place finish at the Midwest regional. She has run as fast as 17:35 in a 5k and should have a shot at the double qualifier.
Mackenzie Caldwell- Idiana- Caldwell was runner-up to Welch at the Indiana State Meet in 17:56. She has been consistently running under 18 throughout the season and was 18th in this race last year. She will be trying to bounce back from a tough race in bad conditions at NXN Midwest, where she was 39th.
Elena Lancioni- Indiana- Lancioni was third at the Indiana State Championship in 18:03. She followed that up with a strong 5th place finish at the Mid-East Cross Country Championship. With a lot of wins on the season, the Bowling Green commit won’t be intimidated and could surprise and qualify to San Diego.
Rebekah Topham- Iowa- Topham is a state champ in Iowa, clocking 13:56 for a 4k, capping off an undefeated regular season. She also recently competed in the NXN Heartland regional, finishing seventh, and at the National Youth Championships, finishing first. She should be in the mix for a spot to Nationals.
Karissa Schweizer- Iowa- Schweizer is a state runner-up in Iowa, running 14:09 in a 4k. She ran 17:51 at NXN Heartland to punch her ticket to NXN Nationals. She will go for more hardware here, trying to land double qualifier status.
Grace Gibbons- Iowa- Gibbons is another state champ from Iowa. She has not raced this postseason, but she has a not lost since September and could be a factor in the race.
Audrey Belf- Michigan- Belf is a state champ from Michigan, clocking 17:31 there to win. She has not lost all year and should be among the favorites for the individual title at this race.
Lauren Brasure- Michigan- Brasure is a state runner-up from Michigan. She has clocked as fast as 17:29 for a 5k and has performed well against top competition, winning Ms. Michigan CC for this season. She should be in the mix for a spot to nationals as well.
Kirsten Olling- Michigan- Olling completed her regular season with her fourth consecutive state championship in Michigan. She then followed that up with a runner-up finish at the Mid-East Cross Country Championship. It would be surprising if she wasn’t in the mix for nationals after a 30th place finish here last year.
Jenna Truedson- Minnesota- Truedson was third at the Minnesota state meet, clocking 14:19 for a 4k. She followed that up by running 17:54 at the NXN Heartland regional, finishing fifth and qualifying for NXN. She will look to double up on Saturday.
Annie Heffernan- Ohio- Heffernan was an Ohio state champ, clocking 18:13. She had a rough race at NXN Midwest, finishing 11th in 19:24. She has run under 18 four times this year and she was runner-up at NBON with a 10:13 for two miles. She will look to qualify to nationals after finishing 21st here last year.
Jacquelyn Crow- Ohio- Crow was runner-up to Heffernan at the state championship, after winning the race last year. She finished 16th a year ago and will look to move up this year. She will also be trying to bounce back from a rough race at the Mid-East Championship.
Jordan Jacob- North Dakota- Jacob is the state champ from North Dakota, clocking 14:02 for a 4k. She ran at the NXN Heartland Regional, finishing 16th. She will look to improve upon that here.
Hannah Long- Missouri- Long is a state champ from Missouri, where she clocked 17:46, breaking the state record. She has many impressive victories this season, including at Great American. She should be one of the individual favorites in this race.
Taylor Werner- Missouri- Werner is a state champ from Missouri, also breaking a state record by running 17:31. She was the runner-up in this race last year and her postseason so far has been incredibly successful. She won NXN Midwest in a time of 18:36, setting her up as an individual favorite in this race as well.
Elizabeth Flatley- Wisconsin- Flatley is a state champ from Wisconsin, running 14:11 at the meet. She followed that performance by running 18:12 to finish 11th at NXN Heartland. She should be in the mix for a spot.