Cross Country may be the sport in which freshmen girls have the biggest impact on high school athletics. Plenty of middle schoolers make a smooth transition to high school competition with quick success. Often, they can make an immediate impact with just a slight or no increase in training from the previous year or more, or often have a steadily increasing impact with a steadily growing workload, from those with little to no background in distance running.
Ninth-grade ladies had a big impact on the 2023 Missouri High School cross country season. Columbia's
Angelina Cottone (pictured above) didn't have any hiccups but a smooth transitioned from an elite middle schooler to high school stardom. The 2023 Festival of Miles Middle School champion in 5:14 (5:12-1600m) joined the loaded, two-time defending state champion Father Tolton Catholic squad and helped them to a 3rd straight state title, this time in Class 5.
Cottone was part of an all-time great top-4, with runners placing 2nd, 9th, 1...