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Individuals to Watch
It's going to take a crazy fast time to win the inaugural girls state title in Class 5 this season. In fact, the defending state champion in both Class 3 and Class 4 will be competing for the Class 5 title at Gans Creek.
Carolyn Ford (Rock Bridge) is the top overall returning girl in state last year with a time of 18:08. That 18:08 was enough to make the first freshman to ever win the Class 4 state title. She'll has the makings to be the next Missouri legend, and will look to drop below the 18:00 barrier this fall.
The reigning Class 3 champion, Julia Ray (MICDS) also will join the Class 5 ranks this year due to the championship factor moving MICDS up two classes. She holds the third fastest returning time in Class 5 with an 18:13 and also will be looking to drop below the 18:00 barrier in her sophomore season.
Mya Trober (Blue Springs South) was last year's runner up in Class 4, and returns with the second fastest returning time with an 18:13. She'll look to challenge for the title and 18:00 barrier as well this season.
Other notable runners to watch in Class 5 include Grace Tyson (Lafayette), Klarie Brown (Kickapoo), Leah Kleekamp (Eureka), and Lucy Ndungu (Pattonville).
The Top 100 Girls Returners in Class 5
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The Team Trophies
This season looks be an intriguing one in the quests for team trophies. Lee's Summit West was just able to hold of a young and hungry Rock Bridge squad last year at the state meet to win their second straight Class 4 crown.
The Titans however were hit hard by graduation, and it looks like this is Rock Bridge's time to shine. The Bruins return four of their top five from last year, and five of their top seven that includes last years state champ, Carolyn Ford.
Eureka also looks poised to make a run for the team title, as the return their entire top seven that placed third in Class 4 last year.
Other teams that will look to make podium runs include Lafayette (Wildwood), Kickapoo, Liberty, Pattonville, Blue Springs South, and Liberty (Wentzville).