As the 2024 cross country season approaches, Milesplit Arkansas will spend one week previewing one of the six classifications in the state.
While just about everybody returns in 5A this season, so does Aubrey Minton who will be searching for her second state title in as many years. Greenwood returns four of their top five runners from last season's state championship team and will be fighting off challenges from several different teams in November.
Take a look at the athletes, teams, and storylines to watch for in Class 5A girls this season. Class previews for 6A will begin next week.
2024 ARKANSAS CROSS COUNTRY SEASON PREVIEWS
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Contenders:
Last season as a freshman, Aubrey Minton coasted to a 32-second victory at her first cross country state meet. Fresh off two podium finishes on the track this spring, the sophomore from Valley View will be one of the favorites once again in 2024.
Unfortunately for her, she will be tasked with the toughest job in the state this season. Of the top 18 finishers at last season's state meet, just one graduated in the spring which means Milton will have beat nearly every individual from last season again if she wants to defend her state title.
Behind her is a collection of talent that is more than capable of ruining Minton's homecoming in Hot Springs on any given day - including this November.
Carole Werner, Audrey Herrell, and Starlyn Edwards are three names that will challenge the defending champion this season. The three rising seniors rounded out the top 5 at the cross country state meet last season, finishing 3rd, 4th, and 5th respectively.
In her three years at Greenwood, Werner has never finished worse than 5th at the Arkansas state championships. Continuing the streak would put the rising senior in rare air amongst all-time girls in Class 5A. Herrell set an impressive personal best at the Wampus Cat Invitational last season en route to the first major victory of her cross country career, running a 19:06.80.
As good as Werner and Herrell have been, Edwards is riding a wave of momentum nobody else in the state is and could very well be Minton's stiffest competition in 5A this season.
Edwards picked up two convincing wins at the 5A State Championships this spring and carried that success into the summer track season where she finished 4th at the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships in the 1,500m. While Edwards is just the fifth fastest returner in 5A this season, her improvement over the last year suggests she is due for a breakout campaign.
Lani Inman is another name that will be in the mix this fall. Last season, the junior from Lake Hamilton raced to two wins and dipped below 20 minutes in the 5K. In her senior season, Inman will be searching for her first state championship and there's no better place to do it than on your home course.
Brendal Brunet finished 6th at last season's state meet as a freshman and will look to build on her successful debut season in 2024. Brunet is at Lakeside, which is a strong program with good tradition, and finished 5th at the state track meet in the 1,600m and 3,200m this spring, which leads me to believe the rising sophomore could be due for an exciting season.
Russellville will be tasked with replacing Brooklyn Nicholson, who will race for Central Arkansas this fall, and Paxtin Lawlis looks to be the next No. 1 for the Cyclones. Lawlis finished 8th at last seasons state meet and set a personal best time at the Chile Pepper Festival, running a 20:14.15.
Abbigail McCarty finished 7th at the state meet last year and returns for her final season at Van Buren. This spring, the junior set new personal bests across all three distance events and will look to carry that momentum from the track to the grass this fall.
Other Individuals to Watch: Julia Witherington, Avery Agee, Lucy Koehn, Halli Baber
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Teams to Watch
Greenwood narrowly edged out Russellville to win the state championship last season and returns six runners from their top 7 this season, making them favorites once again in 2024.
Considering their personal best times from last season, Lake Hamilton will be one of the Bulldogs biggest threats to defending their title from a year ago.
The Wolves return one of the best 1-2 punches in the state with Herrell and Inman. Together, this dynamic duo could be the key to Lake Hamilton's success in 2024.
Despite losing their top runner, Russellville will also be one of the top teams in 5A this season. To go along with Lawlis, Lilly Stubblefield will be another consistent prescence in the Cyclones lineup this season and could guide them to another strong finish at the state meet.
Other Teams to Watch: Little Rock Christian, Valley View, Vilonia