Here Are Your 5 NXN At-Large Girls Individuals


* Buchanan's Corie Smith finished second at Woodbridge

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Girls At-Large No. 1Sydney Masciarelli (Declined -- Travel)

School: Marianapolis Prepatory (CT)

Place At Regionals: Did not run

Skinny: An exceptional talent who just won the Foot Locker Northeast Region with an all-time effort at Van Cortlandt Park in 17:12.60. She posted three times 5K times under 17:15. 

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Girls At-Large No. 2Marlee Starliper (Declined -- Focusing on Foot Locker)

School: Northern (PA)

Place At Regionals: Did not run

Skinny: Went undefeated through her high school season and then finished second overall at Foot Locker Northeast, where she she put up a season best 17:17.50. Her last five performances were all under 18 minutes, including two under 17:20.00. 

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Girls At-Large No. 3: Grace Connolly (Declined -- Focusing on Foot Locker)

School: Natick (MA)

Place At Regionals: Did not run

Skinny: One of the top talents in the Northeast, Connolly ran a PR of 16:35.30 at the Brown Northeast Invitational. 

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Girls At-Large No. 4Ericka Vanderlende (Accepted)

School: Rockford (MI)

Place At Regionals: Did not run

Skinny: She went undefeated across her regular season in Michigan, producing a PR of 16:43.30.

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Girls At-Large No. 5Abby Vanderkooi (Declined)

School: Muskegon Western Michigan Christian (MI)

Place At Regionals: Did not run

Skinny: Arguably the best freshman in the country this season. The Michigan prep has 15 races under her belt in 2018, including three under 17 minutes and a PR of 16:57.30. She was fourth at Foot Locker Midwest and first in her LP Division 4 Championship in Michigan. She won 13 of 15 races this fall. 

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Alternate No. 1Corie Smith (Accepted) 

School: Buchanan (CA)

Place At Regionals: Did not run

Skinny: One of California's top talents was unable to race at the CIF Championships. She won four races this fall and was third at Clovis and second at Woodbridge. 

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Alternate No. 2Kaylee Thompson (Declined -- not available)

School: Classical Academy (CO)

Skinny: Won five of six races over the regular season, including the Class 3A state championship on Oct. 27, before scoring a sixth-place finish at NXR Southwest in a PR of 17:18.33.

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Alternate No. 3Valerie Lastra (Declined)

School: Mater Academy Charter (FL)

Skinny: Won five races this fall, including Florida's Class 3A Championship on Nov. 10 in 17:17.58. She was fourth at the Foot Locker South Regional. 

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Alternate No. 4: Ember Stratton (Accepted)

School: Hellgate (MT)

Skinny: She's definitely experienced. While with Sunset (OR), Stratton finished 20th as a freshman in 2015 and second as a sophomore in 2016. Stratton has had a very good senior season, finishing 13th at Bob Firman, third at Montana's Class AA championships and eighth at NXR Northwest. 

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Alternate No. 5: Ashley LaJocies (Accepted)

School: Eagle (ID)

Skinny: Finished seventh at NXR Northwest and was second at Idaho's Class 5A state championship. She was third at Nike Portland. 

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Alternate No. 6: Riley Stewart (Accepted)

School: Cherry Creek (CO)

Skinny: Was ninth at Foot Locker Midwest, won the open championship at NXR Southwest in 17:18.96 and was fifth at her Colorado state meet.