Saga Barzowski, Arcadia Valley, JR
Last Year: 2nd, 19:26
Best – 18:45, AVG – 19:30
In what will be a very interesting race, Barzowski is one of two returner state champs for Class 2. She won her freshman year but lost to then freshman Courtney Rogers last year. Barzowski, Rogers, and Kaitlyn Fischer will make for an interesting race. We give Barzowski the top spot as she has run the fastest this year. She has raced Fischer a few times this year and they have been close, but she has always come out on top. She has also raced Rogers a few times this year and come and won all of those races as well.
Compare Saga Barzowski and Kaitlyn Fischer
Compare Saga Barzowski and Courtney Rogers
Kaitlyn Fischer, Herculaneum, JR
Last Year: 3rd, 20:00
Best – 18:48, AVG – 19:28
Fischer was third last year behind the two other girls, but has shown she can compete against them this year. She has gotten close to Saga on occasions and beaten Rogers the two times she raced her this year (Hancock and Forest Park). She has consistently run in the low 19’s this year and looks ready for state as she was only four seconds behind Saga at districts
Compare Kaitlyn Fischer and Courtney Rogers
Compare Kaitlyn Fischer and Saga Barzowski
Courtney Rogers, Lutheran (St. Peters), SO
Last Year: 1st, 19:06
Best – 18:43, AVG – 19:42
It’s realy hard to pick a girl who finished 1st last year to place third but the other two have gotten the best of her this year. Rogers has shown she can compete and fun great times. She crushed her field at districts and looks to be ready to take on Barzowski and Fischer.
Compare Courtney Rogers and Saga Barzowski
Compare Courtney Rogers and Kaitlyn Fischer
(Photo Credit: Michelle Wheeler)
Rachael Wheeler, Stockton, JR
Last Year: 34th, 21:28
Best – 19:19, AVG – 20:31
Stockton ran an impressive 19:19 at her district meet to win by 4 seconds over Lydia Holtmann. While the course was a bit fast, that is a fast time regardless. Her time was almost two minutes faster than her time last year at districts, which was also held on a fast course. Another meet to compare to last year, she was over a minute and a half better than the year before at Humansville. She has shown great improvement from last year and that she can contend with the top runners, beating the 15th place finisher from last year at districts.
Julie Candau, Whitfield, SO
Last Year: 4th, 20:12
Best – 19:38, AVG – 20:28
Candau has experience finishing well at state with a 4th place finish in her freshman year. She has had another solid year and could be able to match her performance. She will have to do a lot to crack the top three, as the top three are some of the best girls in the state. Candau has broken 20 on occasions this season and has ran faster than last year in most of her meets.
(Photo Credit: Angus Bennion)
Lydia Holtmann, Springfield Catholic, SO
Last Year: 15th, 20:42
Best - 19:23, AVG - 21:23
Holtman only lost by four seconds to Wheeler at districts. Her 15th place finish last year shows she is capable of running well at state. She hasn’t placed higher than 10th at a meet his season, not counting the first meet.
Emily Cumpton, Blair Oaks, SR
Last Year: 21st, 20:58
Best - 19:42, AVG - 20:45
Cumpton has had a great year this year, winning four straight meets. She won her district by 9 seconds this past weekend. She had a great track season which included a 3rd and a 5th place finish this past spring.
Ceara Flowers, Bowling Green, SR
Last Year: 20th, 20:56
Best - 20:28, AVG - 20:53
The Bowling Green senior finished second behind Courtney Rogers at districts. She PR’d this past weekend so she should be ready to go for the biggest race of her season.
Katie Lofland, St. Pius X (Festus), FR
Best - 19:48, AVG - 21:10
Lofland has had a good freshman year consistently running good times and placing well at meets. She won her district this past weekend with a solid time of 19:48.
(Photo Credit: Angus Bennion)
Arnica Zitting, Stockton, SO
Last Year: 47th, 21:51
Best - 19:41, AVG - 20:53
The Stockton sophomore has had a great year following her 13th place performance in 3200 last spring on the track. She placed third in her district with a time of 19:41 right behind Rachel Wheeler and Lydia Holtmann.