By Chris Parker
There are many talented girls cross country runners across our coverage area. Below are some of the girls cross country runners to watch this season.
NOTE: The athletes are listed in alphabetical order.
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Klarie Brown, Kickapoo Senior
Brown has been one of the area’s top runners since her freshman year. That trend continued last year as well when she started out the season winning the SWCCCA championship with a time of 19:06.19. She finished fourth at the Ozark Conference meet and runner-up at the Class 5 District 2 meet. Brown did not race at the Class 5 state meet, but expect her to push for a high finish this year.
Charlotte Cones, Kickapoo Sophomore
Cones is poised for a breakout sophomore season after a strong offseason of training. She was 32nd in her first race at the SWCCCA meet last year. In the postseason, she finished 10th at the Ozark Conference meet, 24th at the Class 5 District 2 meet and 126th at the Class 5 state meet (20:33.00).
Isabella Frost, Rolla Senior
Frost proved to be one of the area’s top distance runners last year with strong cross country and track seasons. She was seventh at the SWCCCA meet to open the season in 2021. In the postseason, Frost was seventh at the Ozark Conference meet, sixth at the Class 4 District 2 meet and 10th at the Class 4 state meet (19:02.40). In the spring, Frost earned all-state honors in the 3200-meter run with an eighth place finish. She was 10th in the 1600-meter run at state.
Audrey Goatley, El Dorado Springs Sophomore
Goatley’s freshman campaign started off with a 24th place finish at the SWCCCA meet. In the postseason, Goatley was third at the district meet and 17th at the Class 3 state meet with a time of 19:51.10. She qualified for state in the 3200-meter run in the spring.
Hannah Klaiber, El Dorado Springs Senior
Klaiber’s biggest strength might be her speed as evidenced by her third place finish in the 800-meter run at the Class 3 state meet. She ran a time of 2:21.85. She is strong on the cross country course as well. As a junior, Klaiber was 16th at the SWCCCA meet, second at the Class 3 District 2 meet and 11th at the Class 3 state meet (19:30.10).
Lily Hunsucker, Spokane Senior
Hunsucker will look to compete for a state title this year after finishing sixth at the Class 2 state meet with a time of 20:05.80 last year. She was runner-up at both the district the conference meets in her junior season. She proved she can run with anyone at the SWCCCA meet with a 15th place finish. Hunsucker qualified for state in both the 800 and 1600-meter runs in the spring. She took fifth in the 1600 and 13th in the 800.
Adelyn Janssen, Nixa Junior
Janssen started out her sophomore season with a 17th place finish at the SWCCCA meet with a time of 21:03.04. In the postseason, Janssen finished 10th at the COC meet, 18th at the Class 5 District 2 meet and 88th at the Class 5 state meet (20:04.80).
Allie Keizer, Joplin Junior
Keizer was a consistent runner throughout the postseason with her times at conference, district and state all falling within 22 seconds of each other. She was 11th at the COC meet (20:15.20), 14th at the Class 5 District 2 meet (20:30.67) and 96th at the Class 5 State Meet (20:08.40).
Riley Kemna, Neosho Junior
Kemna is one of the COC’s top returning runners after she finished eighth at the COC meet as a sophomore with a time of 19:54.80. She finished 13th at the Class 5 District 2 meet before placing 77th at the Class 5 state meet (19:56.30).
Misora Nambara, Republic Junior
Nambara is poised to be Republic’s top returning runner after a strong sophomore season. She opened up with a 25th place finish at the SWCCCA meet. In the postseason, Nambara was 12th at COC (20:27.80), 25th at Class 5 District 2 (21:04.69) and 116th at Class 5 state (20:21.50).
Kiersten Potter, Lamar Senior
Potter has been one of the top runners in the Big 8 since her freshman year. Last year, Potter finished 10th at the SWCCCA meet. In the postseason, Potter swept the Big 8 and Class 3 District 2 individual titles. She earned all-state honors in Class 3 with a 13th place finish in a time of 19:34.20. Potter qualified for state in both the 1600 and 3200 on the track.
Bridget Ragan, Rolla Junior
Ragan improved greatly throughout her sophomore year. She opened the season with a 53rd place finish at the SWCCCA meet in a time of 22:22.93. By the postseason, Ragan was a top 10 finisher at the Ozark Conference Meet (9th) and district meet (8th). At the Class 4 state meet, Ragan ran a time of 20:15.70 to finish 45th overall.
Addison Sanders, West Plains Sophomore
West Plains must replace a lot of talented runners from last year. Sanders will be looked to for another strong season after posting a great freshman campaign. She was eight at the Ozark Conference meet and 14th at the Class 4 District 2 meet. She earned all-state honors with a 21st place finish at the Class 4 state meet with a time of 19:25.00.
Abigail Street, Webb City Senior
Street was a consistent Top 10 finisher in races throughout her junior season. She started off with as sixth place finish at the SWCCCA meet (19:44.70). In the post-season, Street was fifth at the COC meet, third at the Class 4 District 2 meet and then fifth at the Class 4 state meet (18:44.60). In the spring, Street qualified for the state track meet in the 3200-meter run where she finished 12th overall.
Chloe Wood, Neosho Sophomore
Wood will look to push for an all-state finish in her second season of high school cross country after finishing 45th at the Class 5 state meet last year with a time of 19:30.40. She was 16th at the COC meet and 10th at the Class 5 District 2 meet.
