Class 5 Girls

Top Returners

The Class 5 1600 meter field features 12 girls under 5:10, double the number of the next closest class. It is a cavalcade of talented distance runners, one of the deepest fields we have ever seen, much like the boys field.

Five girls come in with a best under 5:00, led by two Brooke's. Brooke Hedger won the Missouri Mile at the Festival of Miles last June and was the Class 5 fifth place finisher on the cross country course this fall. She ran 4:55.18 en route to her FOM victory, right after a 4:59.42 for fourth at State. Brooke Samuelson had an electric cross country season this fall, running a state-leading 17:33.50 5K. The Air Force Academy recruit has a 4:57.55 personal best to her name and should be ready to challenge for the win in the 1600 this spring. 2025 State runner-up Ella Messner returns for her sophomore campaign with a 4:57.58 personal best to her name, followed by Blue Springs senior Tavia Briles at 4:58.24 and Liberty Wentzville's Bella Navarro-Sanchez at 4:59.41.

The Chase Pack

Hard to believe the chase pack would feature seven girls between 5:02 and 5:10, but here we are. Branson's Alexis Carter capped off a breakout freshman season with a 5:02.50 personal best at the State meet, placing sixth overall. Her name will pop up in the 800 preview, as well. Park Hill South's Madilynn Conklin is not too far behind with a 5:02.99 personal best which earned her a seventh place medal at State. A handful of other top names from across the state litter the field - Audrey Richter, Kelly Archambeault, Lily Hurt, and Jocelyn Haynes - but the one biggest name to watch will probably be Joplin's Ava Doll. The senior is coming off a victory the Class 5 State championships and will be closely watched at every meet which she attends.

Breakout Candidate

Liberty North's Jaelynn Conner will be one to watch this spring as she heads into her junior year season. The Eagle went from 20:24.10 and 115th at the 2024 State meet to 19:04.90 and 21st this November. She ran 5:34.03 for 1600 meters in 2024, opting to focus primarily on the 800 last spring. She ran 2:21.95, showing she has the chops to compete in the 1600. With the quick 800 best and strong 5K, put them to together and it's reasonable to expect a breakout season from Conner.

Incoming Freshman to Watch

Liberty's Tessa Perdue lived up to the billing this fall with an 18:46.90 personal best and seventh place finish at State. She ran 5:29.21 in one of two races last spring and should be among the top Class of 2029 milers in Class 5 this spring.