1. Michigan
Not only is Michigan arguably the state with the most depth on the girls side, it also has three runners on our Flo50 national rankings. The state has four girls under 17 minutes on the season.
And the top two girls on our national list, No. 3 Olivia Theis and No. 14 Adelyn Ackley, will go head-to-head in the Division 3 race. A year ago, it was Ackley who came away with a 1-second victory over Theis, earning a big finish in 17:41.00. But this fall Theis has been nearly unstoppable and has converted on eight wins, including a top time of 16:58.70 at the Cougar Invitational on. Sept. 23.
Ackley, though, has Michigan's No. 2 effort on the season, a 16:54.50 performance at the Benzie Moss Invitational on Aug. 26.
In Division 2, Holland Christian senior Kayla Windemuller will be going for her second title in as many years, while in Division 1 a big showdown will take place between Ann Arbor Pioneer's Anne Forsyth, Traverse City's Sielle Kearney and Macomb L'Anse Cresue North's Karenna Duffey.
Forysth and Duffey finished second and third a year ago, respectively, while Kearney was seventh, but the win is up for grabs after Maggie Farrell's graduation following her title in 2016.
Forysth at one point looked like a lock to win the title, but the senior hasn't been unbeatable, finishing fourth at Portage to Sielle Kearney and Duffey.
Kearney has been the most consistent, locking up five straight wins since Sept. 19, including a time of 16:58.59 at the Northern Michigan XC Championships on Oct. 21.