As the 2024 cross country season nears, Milesplit Arkansas will spend one week previewing one of the six classifications in the state.
In Class 3A, Elle Williamson returns to defend the state championship she won as a freshman while one of the state's emerging distance programs, Providence Classical Christian Academy, joins Class 3A. With the addition of the Patriots comes one of the Natural State's best distance runners Gabbie Bishop who finished last track season with three US top 40 marks.
Take a look at the athletes, teams, and storylines to watch for in Class 3A girls this season. Class previews for 4A, 5A, and 6A will begin Monday, July 29th.
2024 ARKANSAS CROSS COUNTRY SEASON PREVIEWS
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Contenders:
Gabbie Bishop races at the RunningLane Cross Country Championships
Elle and Zoe Williamson gave Arkansas high school sports one of its greatest moments in 2023 when the two sisters from Harding Academy crossed the finish line 1st and 2nd at the 3A state championships last fall. While Zoe graduated this spring, Elle returns for her junior season.
Williamson really came into her own as her sophomore year progressed. After winning the 3A state title, the sophomore finished 9th at the Arkansas vs Oklahoma All Star XC meet and set three personal bests on the track this spring.
While Williamson would be considered the favorite to win a state championship in many classes this season, Providence Classical Christian Academy joins Class 3A this fall and brings along Gabbie Bishop, one of the best distance runners in the country.
Last cross country season, Bishop was one of the better runners in Arkansas, but it wasn't until 2024 that she grabbed national attention. After dipping below 10 minutes in the indoor 3K in February, the sophomore set two more US top 40 marks in the spring in the 1,600m and 3,200m.
ICYMI - GABBIE BISHOP: ARKANSAS' NEXT DISTANCE STAR BY GAVIN FRICK
Now in Class 3A, Bishop will have the opportunity to win her first AAA State Championship.
Also making the move to 3A with Bishop is Jane Adams. Last season as a freshman, Adams won five races on the grass which included an 18:38.97 at the Van Buren Classic. This spring, the rising sophomore finished second in all three distance events at the HCAA Championships and she now enters her first high school season as one of the top girls in 3A.
Layla Maline and Maggie Bishop are two more Patriots that could impact scoring at the top of Class 3A this November in Oaklawn.
Ella Gary has put together a very successful start to her high school career and will be one of the better runners in Class 3A once again this season. The rising senior has earned All-State honors in all three years of cross country and can now focus on winning an individual state title.
Emma Akins (Mountain View) and Anna Stone (Harding Academy) finished 3rd and 4th at last year's state meet and both return as juniors in 2024.
In 2023, Akins competed in six cross country races and finished no worse than 4th at those meets. Later in the spring, Akins won the 3A state championship in the 3,200m. Stone is coming off a breakout cross country season and will be looking to build on that momentum this year.
It's safe to say Akins and Stone will be two of the best in Class 3A this fall.
Other Individuals to Watch: Lauren Humiston, Jaesha Smith, Stella Cochran, Britney Mahan, Lakyn Shofner, Ellie Taylor
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Teams to Watch:
The Class 3A girls team race should be one of the best races we watch in Hot Springs this November.
Episcopal Collegiate School edged out Harding Academy by three points to win the team title last season and both teams graduated just one from their top 5 this spring.
So where does that leave us?
According to the Milesplit XC Team Scores feature, Episcopal holds a narrow advantage over Harding Academy. In their first year in 3A, Providence Classical looks like they could also be a legitimate championship contender, and with their entire top 5 returning in 2025, the Patriots could quickly become one of the state's most decorated teams.
While each team looks like they have the fire power up front to lead their team to success, it takes five to win a championship and in 2024, in Class 3A it could very well come down to who has the best No. 5 runner on that day.
Other Teams to Watch: West Fork, Haas Hall Academy, Mansfield, Elkins