Girls
The Chase Pack
Now a seasoned veteran, senior Sophia Pelligreen will be a major key to Clayton's team title bid. Right now, her 18:59.62 from the STL Suburban Conference has her as the 8th ranked girl in the meet, but she's not far off 5th. She's picked up wins at the Ladue Invitational, Clayton Invitational, and the District 1 meet. She's earned runner-ups at Border War and Lutheran North and finished 4th at the Suburban Conference Championships to three Class 5 girls. Pelligreen is a big dog (pun intended) and could be the lowstick for the Class 4 team champions.
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Sisely Mitchell - Platte County
Platte County's Sisely Mitchell posted an 11th place finish last November in a season best 19:12.10. It was a huge PR for the sophomore as she dropped 38 seconds off her previous best to do it. Mitchell turned that breakthrough into a monster track season and has carried that success into her junior year. A near winner in the Gans Creek Blue Division in her personal best 18:51.40, she's also posted wins on her home course and in the KC Suburban White Division. The only Class 4 foes who have beaten her this year are Elyse Wilmes, Kayleigh Norris, Alexandra Kinstler, and Emery Mayfield. Mitchell is a candidate for a top 10 finish this year for sure.
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We're really hoping Saturday was just a standard day off for the sophomore star Alexandra Kinstler from Kearney. It looks like the Lady Bulldogs sat their No. 1 and then proceeded to pack up to an easy victory. Kinstler is coming off her 3rd place finish at the 2021 state meet and has turned in a solid second season. She hasn't matched that 18:36.80 personal best yet, but she has turned in runner-up performances in her last three races (Smithville's Naomi Hunter, two seconds behind St. Teresa's Gracie Jacobs, and Blue Springs' Abigail Blackenbury). She had only one sub-19:00 performance last season - Class 4 State - and has already run under 19:00 once this year. Look for her to step up to the plate when it matters once again this Friday.
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Washington's Julia Donnelly is continuing the legacy of Blue Jay success at the state level. Donnelly is a bulldog when it comes to racing, never seeming to give in to any challenger, and always finding the perfect spot to pounce on an early leader. Her season started slow, but she started to find her form at her home meet at Big Driver. A sub-20:00 on that course, even if it's 19:59, is nothing to sneeze at. She followed that up with a statement win at the GAC Championships and impressive 19:15.06 to finish runner-up at District 3 to Julia Ray. She's an all-state wrestler with a 4th place medal in cross country to her name, too. Look for Donnelly to challenge for top 5 once again this Friday.
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Smithville sophomore Naomi Hunter grabbed a 24th place medal last fall. It was only her second mark under 20:00 at the time, but this year she's posted 5 already. Her personal best of 19:06.69 came at the Missouri Southern Stampede earlier this season, but she's posted some solid marks since then, including a 19:21.00 at Rim Rock for the win in the Crimson division. She was 3rd at the District 4 meet this week behind Norris and Mitchell. She's run with the big dogs all year and is ready to move into the top 10 this year.