Over the past few weeks, we have heard about some big college commitments in the Class of 2027. Primarily through our Instagram account - milesplitmo - we have learned where some of the best in the state are heading next year. If you have a college commitment that hasn't been shared on our profile yet, tag us or send it our way so we can share your awesome announcement!
Here is our current list.
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Updated 10/15 afternoon:
St. Teresa's Academy senior Polly Fendler committed to the University of Tulsa earlier this month. She is a big part of the currently top-ranked Class 5 girls' cross country team.
The nation's top high jumper announced her commitment to the University of Illinois this afternoon. Incarnate Word's Bailey Hensgens cleared a state record 1.86m (6-1) last season, tied for the top mark in the country and tied among top returners in the country for the 2027 season. She won Nike Outdoor Nationals, USATF U20 Championships, and finished eighth at World U20s.
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Isla Alfultis to the University of Kansas
The Helias Catholic rising senior took the state by storm last year, posting some of the fastest hurdle marks we have ever seen while leading her team to an historic Class 5 State team championship.
Alfultis holds personal bests of 14.16 in the 100m Hurdles and 42.09 in the 300m Hurdles, the latter mark being #5 in state history and #18 in the country among 2027 returners. She has also run 11.69 in the 100 meter dash, 24.28 in the 200, and 55.57, and will take her talents across the border to Lawrence to train with Coach Stanley Redwine and Coach Nic Fortenberry.
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Navarro-Sanchez Picks Mizzou
Over the past few years, only a handful of the top Missourians have chosen to stay home and run at the premier athletic university in the state - the University of Missouri-Columbia. Liberty Wentzville's Bella Navarro-Sanchez is the first in the Class of 2027 to make that choice, landing with the Tigers after an illustrious career with the Eagles.
The 2024 Class 5 Cross Country champion, Navarro-Sanchez has seven individual all-state honors to her name across the two seasons, including three in the 800 meter run and a runner-up finish in 2024 in the event. She currently sits #1 in the state in the 5K with the 17:30.50 personal best she posted at the Chile Pepper Festival two weeks ago.
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Krueger Heads to the University of Louisville
A year after the Cardinals saw Hickman's Athena Peterson join the squad, another Missourian state champion is taking their talents to Louisville. St. Charles West's Brianna Krueger announced her commitment this month, securing her future in the ACC with Head Coach Joe Franklin.
Krueger is on a crash course for her third straight individual State championship in Class 3 this season. The top-ranked athlete will have her hands full with a freshman phenom from Reeds Spring, Anna Ross, but has shown time and time again that she knows how to seal the deal on the biggest stage. Not only is she a two-time cross country champion individually, but she has led her team to two team championships in 2023 and 2024, and has six state medals on the track, including two golds from this past season. One of the most decorated athletes in GAC history, Krueger is not done just yet as she looks to go out in style in this, her senior season.
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Lily Hurt to Run in The Little Apple
Liberty's 3200 meter State champion Lily Hurt announced this month that she will be heading across the border, too, to Kansas State University to run for Coach Brent Ewing. After landing the Brinker twins two years ago and Ariana Jackson three years ago, the Missouri to K-State pipeline continues with Lily Hurt.
A contender for the Class 5 individual title in cross country this fall, Hurt put on an impressive display at the 2026 Track and Field championships with her victory in the 3200, runner-up finish in the 1600, and sixth place finish in the 800, as well as her anchor leg to win the 4x800 meter relay. She has broken 17:45 in each of her last two races this fall and sits at #2 in Class 5 with a 17:37.50 personal best.
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Nerinx State Champion Grace Murphy Heads Northeast
Another state champion made their announcement last month as Nerinx Hall's Grace Murphy committed to the prestigious Boston University, a school who plays host to some of the biggest indoor meets in the country.
Murphy has a solid career so far, predicated by a 1600 meter State championship in Class 4 this past spring and a runner-up finish in the 3200. She is a six-time all-state athlete so far across both seasons and should be in the individual title mix at the 2026 Cross Country championships and in both the 1600 and 3200 at the 2027 Track and Field Championships.
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Emery Omon Crosses the State to Land at Lindenwood
Class 4 Shot Put champion Emery Omon made the decision to head from St. Joseph to St. Charles last month, committing to take her talents to Lindenwood University. She is second-ranked among Class 4 returners in the event with her 12.47m (40-10.75) personal best and seventh-ranked in the javelin with a 39.69m (130-2.5) best mark.
Over the past few weeks, we have heard about some big college commitments in the Class of 2027. Primarily through our Instagram account - milesplitmo - we have learned where some of the best in the state are heading next year. If you have a college commitment that hasn't been shared on our profile yet, tag us or send it our way so we can share your awesome announcement!
Here is our current list.
--
Updated 10/15 afternoon:
St. Teresa's Academy senior Polly Fendler committed to the University of Tulsa earlier this month. She is a big part of the currently top-ranked Class 5 girls' cross country team.
The nation's top high jumper announced her commitment to the University of Illinois this afternoon. Incarnate Word's Bailey Hensgens cleared a state record 1.86m (6-1) last season, tied for the top mark in the country and tied among top returners in the country for the 2027 season. She won Nike Outdoor Nationals, USATF U20 Championships, and finished eighth at World U20s.
--
Isla Alfultis to the University of Kansas
The Helias Catholic rising senior took the state by storm last year, posting some of the fastest hurdle marks we have ever seen while leading her team to an historic Class 5 State team championship.
Alfultis holds personal bests of 14.16 in the 100m Hurdles and 42.09 in the 300m Hurdles, the latter mark being #5 in state history and #18 in the country among 2027 returners. She has also run 11.69 in the 100 meter dash, 24.28 in the 200, and 55.57, and will take her talents across the border to Lawrence to train with Coach Stanley Redwine and Coach Nic Fortenberry.
-
Navarro-Sanchez Picks Mizzou
Over the past few years, only a handful of the top Missourians have chosen to stay home and run at the premier athletic university in the state - the University of Missouri-Columbia. Liberty Wentzville's Bella Navarro-Sanchez is the first in the Class of 2027 to make that choice, landing with the Tigers after an illustrious career with the Eagles.
The 2024 Class 5 Cross Country champion, Navarro-Sanchez has seven individual all-state honors to her name across the two seasons, including three in the 800 meter run and a runner-up finish in 2024 in the event. She currently sits #1 in the state in the 5K with the 17:30.50 personal best she posted at the Chile Pepper Festival two weeks ago.
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Krueger Heads to the University of Louisville
A year after the Cardinals saw Hickman's Athena Peterson join the squad, another Missourian state champion is taking their talents to Louisville. St. Charles West's Brianna Krueger announced her commitment this month, securing her future in the ACC with Head Coach Joe Franklin.
Krueger is on a crash course for her third straight individual State championship in Class 3 this season. The top-ranked athlete will have her hands full with a freshman phenom from Reeds Spring, Anna Ross, but has shown time and time again that she knows how to seal the deal on the biggest stage. Not only is she a two-time cross country champion individually, but she has led her team to two team championships in 2023 and 2024, and has six state medals on the track, including two golds from this past season. One of the most decorated athletes in GAC history, Krueger is not done just yet as she looks to go out in style in this, her senior season.