As we get closer to October, and the weather continues to change for the better, the times across Missouri continue to drop and the best teams are starting to make themselves known. Along with the ones we have been following for years now are the newbies. Let's take a look at five freshmen who are making a significant impact on the State rankings or their teams so far in 2026.
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1. Tristan Adams - Smithville
Smithville's Tristan Adams headed into the season as one of the top Class of 2030 boys to watch and so far he has hardly disappointed.
Last Friday, Adams ran a MO No. 13 all-time mark among ninth graders with a 15:56.60 personal best at the Gans Creek Classic Elite Twilight. So far he has ran no slower than 16:55 in five attempts at the 5K distance. As an eighth grader, he dazzled with 2:04.98 and 4:38.01 personal bests in the 800 and 1600, but now he is showing those fast times were hardly a fluke.
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2. Eric Lee - Liberty North
Liberty North's Eric Lee was notably absent from the Gans Creek Classic Elite Twilight last Friday, but has already proven himself an integral part of the Eagles' Class 5 title defense hopes this November. The 16:01.14 personal best he posted at the Sugar Creek Showdown two weeks again was seventeenth in State history for freshmen and he now sits as Liberty North's #4 man on the season.
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3. Anna Ross - Reeds Spring
Reeds Spring's Anna Ross has burst onto the scene after an impressive eighth grade season in her own right. She ran 2:29.27 and 5:24.91 in the 800 and 1600 in her final year of middle school, and has already parlayed that success into high school success.
When Ross ran 18:15.80 for 25th overall at the Gans Creek Elite Twilight Friday night, she pushed herself into elite company in State history. Now 12th all-time among freshmen, Ross is only a few ticks of the clock away from being a top five freshman all-time with 5 weeks left in the season still.
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4. Annie Zenker - Cor Jesu Academy
It was neither surprising when St. Louis Blazers elite talent Annie Zenker landed at Cor Jesu Academy, nor was it surprising when she opened up her career with an 11:58.00 2 mile at the Fleet Feet Cross Country Classic. After running 2:20.53 and 5:08.83 in the 800 and 1600 as a seventh grader, we knew Zenker was destined for great things.
Now she sits not too far off all-time great Charger Mary McKenzie for the school record 5K mark for freshmen with her 18:33.50 best. She is also an integral part of Cor Jesu's top-ranked squad in Class 4.
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5. Emery Spencer - Joplin
After losing an all-time great and State champion in Ava Doll to graduation, Joplin is right back where it left off in 2026 with another elite talent in the State ranks. Freshman Emery Spencer has already taken the reins and begun to write her own story in high school cross country.
The Eagle has already run under 19:00 three times in four tries including the 18:38.00 she ran to win the Queen City After Dark meet and the 18:34.50 personal best she posted at the Gans Creek Classic Elite Twilight last Friday night. She has now battled and defeated several of Southwest Missouri's top girls after finishing fourth at the SWCCCA Richard Clark Invitational in her debut race.