Which AR Elite Soph Girl Will be Improve the Most in 2026?

Last year, as freshmen, they were the best in the Natural State. Now, these 10 girls- the best of the best in Arkansas-look to make a big jump during their sophomore campaign. At the end of this article, the MileSplit Arkansas community will help us answer the question...which sophomore will make the biggest jump from year No. 1 to year No. 1. Which fantastic freshman will grow into a sensational sophomore?

At the top, Bentonville's Flannery O'Daniel, is head and shoulders above the competition. She ran a 17:35 at Chile Pepper. That's No. 2 all-time in the MileSplit Arkansas database behind Maggie Bishop's 17:25 at the same meet in 2024.

Other Bentonville Tigers joining O'Daniel in Arkansas' Top 10 freshmen list from the 2025 season include Claire Lorimer and (No. 2; 18:11) and MJ Hill (No. 8; 20:17).

Bentonville isn't the only team with multiple runners in the state's top 10 rankings from the 2025 season, Bentonville West has a pair in Ashlyn Dick (No. 7; 20:15) and Anna Biesterveld (No. 8; 20:16).

While O'Daniel and Lorimer were the only two runners to break 19:00 over 5K, there were a handful of Arkansans to run 19 low. This group includes Maumelle Charter's Mia McFarland (No. 3; 19:12), Conway's Thea Schwab (No. 4; 19:16). Siloam Springs ' Kagean Vandyke rounds out the top five with a 19:27. 

Other runners to watch in this sophomore class include Waldron's Jenny Grano (No. 6; 20:02) and Vilonia's Abby Charles (No.10: 20:31).