Haley Loewe, the senior from Bentonville, has been nothing short of fantastic this season and is approaching history with just three weeks until the Arkansas State meet.
After a pair of second-place finishes during Bentonville's two race road trip to Texas, Loewe came back home to the Natural State and won the El Caliente girls championship race at the Chile Pepper Festival en route to a blazing fast personal best of 17:03.10.
While Loewe should comfortably collect her second win of the season, the competition behind the defending 6A state champion will be terrific.
Loewe's teammate Devyn O'Daniel is entered in Saturday's meet and is coming off an 18:21.80 performance at Chile Pepper last month. O'Daniel has averaged 18:50 across those races and should continue her great season.
Carole Werner has not raced too much in 2023, but ran an 18:53.20 at the Chile Pepper Festival and finished 2nd at the 5A state championship meet last fall. Werner finished second at the Panther XC Classic last month, running a 20:29.54, and is someone I would expect to have a great day on Saturday.
Audrey Herrell will be racing on her home course coming off a dominating 19:06.80 win at the Wampus Cat Invitational. Nobody will be more familiar with Saturday's course than the senior from Lake Hamilton.
Brooklyn Nicholson from Russellville will be looking to rebound after a tough race in Fayetteville two weeks ago. Nicholson won the Cyclone Invitational this season and finished 3rd at the 5A state championship meet last fall.
Macey Hurley, Kayla Hurley, Ember Chariton, Virginia Milwee, Hannah Hansen, and Cady Masters are several other top competitors entered for Saturday that should compete up front.
The girls from Bentonville will be the top team competing on Saturday along with some hot Cabot, Greenwood, and Russellville squads.