2. Emily Covert, Minneapolis Washburn
Covert didn't make the same splash as Grace Ping when she came onto the scene as a 7th grader, but she has certainly been a well-known name in Minnesota the past five years. However, her junior year has been by far her most successful, taking the win in both the Roy Griak Invitational and the Minnesota State Class AA Championships, her first, and virtually lapping the field in every other competition she's been in.
Covert's average time is by far the best in the Heartland field and she is the only one who still has not lost a race. Considering the speed of her rise this fall and the relatively short amount of time she's been in the national spotlight, questions certainly still remain on just how well she matches up with the national title contenders, but this race could be a springboard to put her name in that conversation -- after all, she has already beaten one national contender in Ping this year.