With the high school cross-country season in Washington set to begin in February of 2021, The Runner WA has put together a list of the top 50 runners to watch for this coming spring season. These rankings are based on their 2019 season performances and the 2020 COVID season this fall if they had run a time trial or virtual meet.
Here are the girls ranked 41 through 50 to kick off the new set of rankings.
50. Anna Grabowski, Liberty (Issaquah)
2019 Time: 19:03.3
2019 State: 13th (2A), 19:03.3
2020 Time: N/A
Analysis: Anna Grabowski is among the many returning juniors in the 2A ranks, and with an end of the season personal-best mark of 19:03.3 at the state cross country meet, she is coming into her junior year with plenty of confidence. To build upon her 13th place finish at state, Grabowski ranks 10th in 2A heading into the new season.
49. Katelyn Flolo, Camas
2019 Time: 19:01.1
2019 State: 27th (4A), 19:03.3
2020 Time: N/A
Analysis: As Halle Jenkins moves on to the collegiate ranks after a great high school career, Katelyn Flolo takes over the Camas Papermakers' top role. Flolo was 27th at the 4A state cross country meet last fall, but her best race came at the USATF Region 13 Junior Olympic Championships running a personal best time of 19:01.1 and placing second.
48. Matise Mulch, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls)
2019 Time: 18:56.4
2019 State: 8th (1A), 19:05.9
2020 Time: N/A
Analysis: The battle for the second-best runner in 1A this season will be a close one, featuring Lakeside's much improved Matise Mulch after she captured her second state medal in her young career. With a 5k personal best time of 18:56.4, Mulch will look to lead the Eagles back to winning ways this year as they try to avenge their state team title loss.
47. Aubrey Harrington, Capital
2019 Time: 18:55.3
2019 State: 22nd (3A), 19:06.8
2020 Time: N/A
Analysis: After a successful freshman track season where she qualified for the state meet in two events, Aubrey Harrington brought her talents to cross country for the first time as she placed 22nd overall at the 3A state cross country meet. She would record five personal best times in various races, including a 5k time of 18:55.3 at the Bill Kehoe South Sound Invite.
46. Belle Johnson, Gig Harbor
2019 Time: 19:00.7
2019 State: 21st (3A), 19:00.7
2020 Time: N/A
Analysis: A solid first couple of races for Belle Johnson in the early part of her sophomore season, but it was during October where she struggled the most to get back to the times she had run in September. Like most athletes on this list, Johnson found her rhythm once again and ran the race of her life in Pasco at the 3A state cross country meet placing 21st in a time of 19:00.7.
45. Christina Crow, Holy Names
2019 Time: 19:00.3
2019 State: 20th (3A), 19:00.3
2020 Time: N/A
Analysis: One year after failing to make the varsity state team for Holy Names in her sophomore season, Christina Crow made her way back up in the top seven for the Cougars with a much improved junior year. Crow qualified for the 3A state cross country meet for the first time since her freshman year and ran her best race in a time of 19:00.3 placing 20th overall, all while helping the Cougars to a second-place team finish behind North Central.
44. Bridget Burns, Lewis & Clark
2019 Time: 18:59.9
2019 State: 26th (4A), 18:59.9
2020 Time: N/A
Analysis: Bridget Burns is on her way to be the next great runner to go through Lewis & Clark's programs, and she will only be a sophomore this year. The Tigers' top returner got better each race finishing the year with a 5k personal best time of 18:59.9. With wins at the Highlander Invite and two Greater Spokane League meets in her freshman year, Burns is someone who will be earning the respect of those in Eastern Washington for her ability as an up and coming runner.
43. Nell O'Hara, Woodinville
2019 Time: 18:57.4
2019 State: 25th (4A), 18:57.4
2020 Time: N/A
Analysis: Her 5k personal best time of 18:42.9 came her freshman year at the Nike Hole in the Wall Invite, but Nell O'Hara managed to crack the 19-minute barrier again as a sophomore. Although it may not have been a personal best season, O'Hara took her state time down by over a minute and went from placing 71st to 25th. Woodinville hasn't had a state podium placer since Chandler Olson in 2010, and as of now, O'Hara is on the outside looking in from that position.
42. Faith Martinez, Tahoma
2019 Time: 18:56.2
2019 State: 22nd (4A), 18:56.8
2020 Time: 19:10
Analysis: The times may not have shown last fall, but I still believe Faith Martinez could be one of Washington's top runners. She has run solidly in the COVID season with a 19:10 5k, but she would most definitely like to get back to where she was as a freshman when she ran 18:21.8 and placed eighth overall at the 4A state cross country meet. More importantly, Martinez managed to help the Tahoma Bears to another state trophy with her 22nd place finish in a very competitive race from a team aspect.
41. Josephine Stevenson, Bellarmine
2019 Time: 18:57.2
2019 State: 23rd (4A), 18:57.2
2020 Time: N/A
Analysis: Ella Borsheim has been the face of Bellarmine's program for the last three seasons, but Josephine Stevenson has entered the conversation to be considered one of the next great runners to come through the Lions program. In her freshman year, Stevenson went from running 20:39 in her first 5k to cracking 19 minutes on a very challenging state course running 18:57.2, showing signs of great potential in years to come.
To view previous 2021 top 50 Washington cross country rankings, click below:
Note: The 2021 Washington girls' top 50 cross country rankings were compiled by The Runner WA's cross country and track and field analyst Keenan Gray.
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