Gavin's Top 21 - Girls Individual Rankings
1. Lilly Beshears, Rogers
2. Gabbie Bishop, Providence Classical
3. Maggie Bishop, Providence Classical
4. Samantha Schmersahl, Rogers
5. Aubrey Minton, Valley View
6. Lauren Thompson, Jonesboro
7. Elizabeth Scudder, Rogers
8. Katherine Scudder, Rogers
9. Virginia Milwee, Mount St. Mary Academy
10. Starlyn Edwards, Paragould
11. Annie Cornett, Fayetteville
12. Anna Scudder, Rogers
13. Everly O'Daniel, Bentonville
14. Madysen Hantuba, Bentonville
15. Carley Cole, Bentonville
16. Emma Fowlkes, Vilonia
17. Cady Masters, Cabot
18. Lily Goodwin, Fayetteville
19. Brooklyn Simpson, Fayetteville
20. Hattie Ray Beshears, Rogers
21. Mya Hurley, Bentonville
Yeah, girls distance running in Arkansas is getting serious too.
Lilly Beshears leads the way in the Natural State and has been setting records left and right. The junior from Rogers most recently won the Chile Pepper Festival, running a 16:40.40, which is a US #5 and fastest time run in Arkansas history. As her team looks poised to make a run at a berth to NXN Nationals, Beshears could be looking to qualify for a postseason race as an individual as well.
The Bishop sisters from Providence Classical have been electric this season. Following a monumnetal sophomore track season, Gabbie Bishop has been stellar on the grass this fall and looks to keep getting better. In just her freshman season, Maggie Bishop has already gone 17:25.40, which is the 5th fastest time among freshman. The two have set themselves up nicely for a strong finish to the season, which should culminate in a 1-2 finish at their first Arkansas state meet.
Samantha Schmersahl did not race for the state championship winning Rogers team last season, but after a breakout track season, the junior from Rogers has become one of the best runners in the Natural State. Schmersahl has been incredibly consistent this season, running between 18:10-18:22 in three races this season and running her first race under 18:00 doesn't seem too far away.
Aubrey Minton and Lauren Thompson both started the season setting personal bests at the CBC Warrior Invitational and have maintained stellar form ever since. Minton is undefeated this year on the grass, having run 18:22.70 most recently, while Thompson has two wins of her own and has run under 18:40 on three occasions.
READ HERE: MIDSEASON TEAM RANKINGS
Elizabeth Scudder and Katherine Scudder are incredibly important members of this lights-out Rogers squad and have stepped into even more prominent roles in the absence of Kayla Eggers (17:59, AR #5), who has been out since September 14th. Their sister Anna Scudder isn't too far behind and has been the team's #5 this season. The set of triplets from Rogers are the keys to success for this Mounties team in November and beyond.
Virginia Milwee and Starlyn Edwards are two more of Arkansas' best. Milwee has been below 19:00 on two occasions this season and has won each of those races, while Edwards is coming off her first sub 19:00 performance last weekend in Memphis. It wouldn't be too far fetched to imagine these two girls making a run at sub 18:00 with four weeks left in the season and several fast postseason races on the scheduled.
In her lone race this season, Annie Cornett was spectacular, running 18:39.80 and finishing inside the top 20 against out-of-state competition. However, the freshman from Fayetteville has yet to race since this season. Her teammates Lily Goodwin and Brooklyn Simpson have stepped up the game in her absence, each consistently running near the front and dropping fast times.
Everly O'Daniel, Madysen Hantuba, and Carley Cole has been a spectacular pack up front for this quietly climbing Bentonville squad. One week after finishing 6-7-8 on their home course, the trio each crossed the line in under 19:00. As the Tigers get closer to the postseason, their pack of three low-sticks could be the formula to success in the postseason.
Emma Fowlkes has had a sensational freshman season, which has included a pair of wins at the Little Rock XC Classic and Minuteman Day XC Meet. Fowlkes most recently picked up a signature win at the Wampus Cat Invitational and broke Olivia Pielemeier's course record along the way. The freshman from Vilonia is poised for a strong finish to her first high school season and could even be in contention to win the 5A state title as well.
Cady Masters is someone you can count on to show up when it matters most. The two-sport standout from Cabot has gotten faster each time she has raced this season and has given us no reason to believe that trend will stop anytime soon. As the postseason nears and cross country becomes her sole priority, an even bigger drop in time could come in the final weeks of the season.
Hattie Ray Beshears and Mya Hurley, a pair of freshman, round out today's rankings and have made good impressions early on in their careers. Both are competing for two of the best programs in the state and will play pivotal roles for both of their teams down the stretch.
Honorable Mentions:
Kayla Eggers, Rogers (Has not raced since 9/14)
Paxtin Lawlis, Russellville
Lani Inman, Lake Hamilton
Emelia Hesselgren, Fayetteville
Malayla Johnson, Rogers
Jane Adams, Providence Classical
Ella Gary, Episcopal Collegiate School
Abbigail McCarty, Van Buren