(Photo: Greg Hall)
10. Blue Springs
Location: Blue Springs, MO
Enrollment: 2547
Head Coach: Matt Johnson
2016 District (Place): 7 (2nd)
2016 Sectional (Place): 4 (3rd)
2016 State Place: 8th
Key Top 7 Returners: Tessa Valdivia (1), Elaina Hubner (2), Kyleigh Ingalls (3), Maddie Purvis (5), Alisha Howk (7)
Blue Springs returns a strong Top 3. Valdivia is coming off an impressive campaign that included an 18:59 5K PR and 11th place finish at the state meet. She kept the good times rolling with 2:24, 5:06, and 11:13 bests on the track and is our Preseason C4 #8. Her teammate, though, Elaina Hubner, is actually faster than her in her career having posted an 18:38 lifetime best. Last year, she was 19:44 at the state meet, but she had a strong track season and is #8 on our Watch List. Ingalls, a rising sophomore, did not compete on the track, but posted a 19:50 as a freshman. With 3 girls sub-20:00, and 2 capable of breaking 19:00, Blue Springs will have to rely on the back end of their scorers to step up in the ever-competitive District 7. Maddie Purvis has a lifetime best (20:23) that isn't too far back, but their #5 returner, Alisha Howk, comes in a full minute back of Purvis. Blue Springs will slot in at #10 for now, but we expect them to make the adjustments and will most likely see them in November for their 21st ever trip to state and 2nd in a row.