Athlete: Ashton Endsley
Year: 2017
School: Abilene Christian, TX
Analysis: Ashton Endsley had an up-and-down junior cross country season, but enjoyed her biggest moments on the sport's grandest scale at NXN. She ran undefeated during the regular season, but placed just 11th at the Texas state championship in muddy, miserable conditions. The rain returned during the NXN South Regional just a week later, though this time Endsley used her experience to notch a first place finish and advance to Portland. She attempted to go for the NXN-Foot Locker double, but placed 25th at the Foot Locker South Regional to miss qualification by 15 places. She shook off the tough run to take sixth place in 17:19.60 at NXN, her first All-American honors.
On the track, Endsley set PBs of 4:54.39 in the mile to win Flo Golden South, and 10:25.51 for 3200m to earn runner-up honors at the Texas state meet.