Gavin's Top 11:
1. Rogers
2. Bentonville
3. Fayetteville
4. Cabot
5. Bentonville West
6. Providence Classical Christian
7. Lake Hamilton
8. Mount St. Mary Academy
9. Greenwood
10. Valley View
11. Russellville
Rogers won the 26th state title in their team's history last fall and is focusing on winning a 27th in just a few months. The Mounties return practically everyone from last season's team and even add more star power that emerged during the outdoor track season. Not only does Rogers have their eye on a second straight state title, but they are also eyeing a bid to qualify to Nike Cross Nationals in Oregon in 2024.
Bentonville and Fayetteville follow closely behind Rogers and their competition for the second podium position at the state meet will be one to watch as the season unfolds. Both teams return four runners that have run under 20-minutes in the 5,000m and are searching for that one No. 5 runner to help push their teams over the edge.
Cabot is in the same boat as the two teams aforementioned. Cady Masters, Abigail Huff, and Makenzie Wood make up one of the best 'Big 3's" in the state and finding strong No. 4 and 5 runners will determine this team's fate in the postseason. The Panthers will be a sneaky team to watch in 6A this season and could be one of two teams that sneaks up on some of the favorites.
Bentonville West is the other team very capable of sneaking up on some of the powerhouse programs ranked ahead of them. Ivette Garcia and Malaya Johnson have both run under 20-minutes in the 5,000m and the emergence of Elizabeth Decker, who finished 13th in the 3,200m at the state meet this season could push this team even closer to the top.
Providence Classical is led by Gabbie Bishop, the best runner in the state, but has the horses behind her to help this team make a serious push to the top. Jane Adams, Layla Maline, Allison Till, and Maggie Bishop are expected to make up the team's top 5 this season, which could be one of the best in the state. New to 3A this season, Providence Classical enters the season as the favorite to win a state title in their first year in the AAA.
Lake Hamilton brings back a good group from last year's team, which includes Audrey Herrell and Lani Inman. Alongside their top 2, Taylor Mitchell and Halli Baber return and have both run sub 21:00 in the 5,000m on multiple occasions. The Wolves are the first 5A team to appear in today's rankings and they will be looking to win their first state title since 2013.
The next four teams were incredibly difficult to rank and found their positions on today's rankings for a number of different reasons.
The impending two-headed monster consisting of Virginia Milwee and Amelia Byers could send Mount. St Mary Academy flying up the state leaderboards and help the Belles improve upon their 7th place finish at last year's state meet.
Greenwood returns four of their top five runners from last season, which bodes well for the defending 5A champions from a year ago. After finishing 3rd as an individual at state in 2023, Carole Werner returns for her senior season along with Julia Witherington, Piper Ames, and Camryn Coston who all finished inside the top 22 at the state meet as well.
Valley View and Russellville round out today's rankings and will both being chasing the Bulldogs in 5A. The Blazers return Aubrey Minton, the defending 5A state champion, as well as their No. 2 and 3 runners from 2023, Avery Agee and Callie Byington. Russellville returns six from their top seven, losing Brooklyn Nicholson who was the state runner-up in 5A last year. However, the Cyclones do return Paxtin Lawlis and Lilly Stubblefield, two top 11 finishers from the state meet.
There's no denying the amount of talent in Class 5A girls this year.
Honorable Mentions:
Episcopal Collegiate School
Ft. Smith Southside
Gravette
Little Rock Christian