Last year's girls cross country season was epic, but unfortunately split as far as the top talent. At the Foot Locker Nationals the returning talent list included 2012 champ Anna Rohrer (IN), Jordyn Colter (CO), Marissa Williams (CA), Hannah Long (MO and Taylor Werner (MO). Up the coast in Oregon at the Nike Cross Nationals the talent list includes 2012 champ Sarah Baxter (CA), runner-up Mary Cain (NY), Alexa Efraimson (WA), Elise Cranny (CO) and Katie Rainsberger (CO). It should be an exciting year as we journey toward the December finales and experience all the excitement between now and then.
Of course the favorites are going to be ready to roll, but the question is, what new harriers will begin to make their mark this year and carry that momentum to their own postseason surprise? Only time will tell, but there is plenty of room for new stars to stamp their place in the annals of XC lore. We'll take a look at a few of them and list those to watch as the season opens.
Take a look at the returners from last year's Foot Locker Nationals. Anna Rohrer (IN) won the championship with an impressive 17:24.8 clocking for the sophomore. She broke away the final time up the hill and held to the finish, giving herself the opportunity to finish out her career with 3 straight titles, a rarely achieved feat. Jordyn Colter (CO) was 4th last year and has a 4:56.20 1600m PR at altitude as she heads into this season. Marissa Williams (CA) surprised the West Coast and likely herself last year by winning the West regional in a solo effort, but she wasn't done, finishing 8th in the finals to cap an amazing sophomore year. She has had great improvement on the track, moving to a 1600m PR of 4:51.19 as she enters this year. Hanna Long (MO) was 10th last year and improved quite a bit on the track this spring. She boasts a 4:48.53 Mile PR and a 4:29.03 for 1500m. Taylor Werner (MO), the break-out frosh last season, had a truly special season to finish 13th and All-American in her first Foot Locker finals. Caroline Alcorta (VA) was 16th last year and ran 10:19.68 for Two Miles this spring to improve her chances this fall. Regan Rome (PA) was 19th last year and recorded a 10:36.13 for 3200m this spring. Julia Maxwell (CA) was 20th last year and recorded a 4:55.91 One Mile and 10:27.99 3200m this spring.
Take a look at the returners from last year's Nike Cross Nationals. Sarah Baxter (CA) will return after dominating in the mud last year. With word that the course may be improved this year the chances of upending this front-running star seem slim, though the list of challengers includes Mary Cain (NY), who was runner-up last year, but with her recent move to Salazar and PR frenzy it is likely that she will make a serious challenge for the title. Cain has a 1500m PR of 4:04.62 and finished 10th in the World in the event. She also boasts a 15:45.46 5000m on the track and a 9:38.68 for 2 miles. Alexa Efraimson (WA) was 4th last year and in the spring improved her 1500m time to 4:16.00 and finished 3rd in the World Youth Champs 1500m in 4:16.07. She is certainly vastly improved from last XC season. Elise Cranny (CO) is another track stand-out after finishing 7th last year. She won the NBNI Mile run with a huge 16s PR of 4:40.62 and then went on to record a 4:15.07 for 1500m at Payton Jordan and then backed it up with a 4:15.86 at the Portland Track Festival. Katie Rainsberger (CO) was 13th last year and then ran a 4:53.41 for 1600m at altitude this spring.
Of course it is impossible to anticipate all of the summer training and the harriers that will make big breakthroughs on the national scene during the course of the year. The lists below will become our National Rankings as meets around the country get underway in a few weeks and the runners sort themselves out on courses all over the country. Ready or not, cross country season is here!!
Foot Locker Returning Finalists
Anna Rohrer, 11
Jordyn Colter, 11
Marissa Williams, 11
Hannah Long, 11
Taylor Werner, 10
Caroline Alcorta, 11
Regan Rome, 12
Julia Maxwell, 12
Katie Lembo, 12
Makena Morley, 11
Marissa Saenger, 12
MacKenzie Barry, 12
Amelia Paladino, 12
Megan Reilly, 10
Sarah Feeny, 12
Allie Klimiewicz, 11
Kennedy Weisner, 12
Nike Cross Returning Finalists
Sarah Baxter, 12
Mary Cain, 12
Alexa Efraimson, 11
Elise Cranny, 12
Katie Rainsberger, 10
Others to Watch
Anna Maxwell, 12 10:10.51 3200m
Annie Heffernan, 11 10:10.02 3200m
Hannah Debalsi, 10 10:10.26 3200m
Natalie Rathjen, 12 10:19.54 3200m
Claire Howlett, 12 10:20.03 3200m
Stephanie Jenks, 10 10:20.68 3200m
Madeline Perez, 12 10:21.19 3200m
Clare Flanagan, 12 10:23.00 3200m
Courtney Smith, 12 10:24.06 3200m
Madie Boreman, 10 10:24.62 3200m
Tessa Barrett, 12 10:25.16 3200m
Bella Burda, 11 10:25.19 3200m
Allie Ostrander, 11 10:25.74 3200m
Megan Huebner, 12 10:26.54 3200m
Sarah Robinson, 12 10:26.65 3200m
Abbie Mcnulty, 12 10:28.05 3200m
Grace Dwyer, 10 10:28.05 3200m
Kimberly Coscia, 11 10:28.23 3200m
Mary Kate Vaughn, 10 10:28.37 3200m
Gianna Frontera, 12 10:28.83 3200m
Josette Norris, 12 10:29.13 3200m
