MileSplit50 Girls Team Rankings Countdown

20. Prosper (TX)

Analysis: The good news is that Prosper returns six varsity members from last year's NXN squad, including three underclassmen. The more direct analysis is that Prosper will have to be much more consistent in 2019 if it wants to improve upon the finishes of 2018: Third at the UIL Class 6A State Cross Country Championships, second at NXR South, and 20th at NXN. None of those results are unsatisfactory, in any respect. But for a team like Prosper, which likely has bigger ambitions, the bigger goal is to win and to prove itself on a national stage. So 2019 will represent, potentially, a larger idea for this team, both in Texas and nationally: Race stronger together. Fortunately, Prosper has a promising young talent in sophomore Aubrey O'Connell, No. 19 on the MileSplit50, who was 41st at NXN and third at the UIL Class 6A Championships. Sophomore Sadie Gonzales is back, as well as senior Tatum Castillo, sophomore Emily Kern, junior Alexis Svoboda and junior Kirstin Towle. If Prosper's secondary pack can close the gap, this team will be dangerous. 

Biggest question: Can they put it together for a state championship? 

It's no secret that Class 6A is loaded, with rival Flower Mound closely behind, not to mention annual contenders Southlake Carroll and Keller. Defending state champion Coppell won't be far behind. Prosper will have to work for it, but it has the potential to be the best in the state in 2019.