BRONZE DIVISION
Kicking it off on the girl's side is Peyton Sievers of Midland. Her best time comes from her win at the Midland Pre-State Duel with a time of 19:49. She went on a week later from that point to finish 5th at the state meet in Class B. The junior is surely wanting to end the season with a bang and claim her second sub-20-minute performance of the year.
Next up in the bronze division, we have Sydney Owens of Ruston. She is just a freshman and has already run below 20-minutes for 5k at the 2021 Watson High School Meet with a 19:58. Her best performance this year comes from the 5A Region 1 qualifier, where she ran 19:21. She competed at the Class 5A championship a week later and claimed 21st. Owens has run consistently in the 19's so expect some more this weekend.
Zoie Holstead (left) at the 5A Region 1 Qualifer
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Another Ruston runner enters the mix with Zoie Holstead. The sophomore has already competed in a 5k this season at the 2021 Watson High School Meet, where she ran 20:40. She finished not too far behind Owens at the Class 5A State Meet with a 24th place finish. Her season-best comes from the 5A Region 1 qualifier where she ran a 19:32.
Another freshman enters the fray with the Lady Bearcats. Abby Edgerton has had some varying performances, but nonetheless, there is a chance for her to excel this weekend. She has already run a 5k and finished with a time of 21:57 at the 2021 Watson High School Meet. She was Ruston's 7th runner at the Class 5A State Meet and finished 59th.
Rounding out the Ruston Bearcat squad is senior Marina Givens. She may not have competed at the cross country state meet this year, but she is a seasoned veteran and provides the leadership for this squad of runners. Unfortunately, the Lady Bearcats are just one runner shy of competing as a team in the bronze division.
Rounding out the bronze division is Emma Bourg of Houma Christian. The junior has been competing both in Mississippi and Louisiana this season. This makes her the most experienced Louisiana runner in terms of 5k competition this season. Her best mark this season comes from the Mooreville XC Invitational where she ran 20:59. She returned to Louisiana after September and showed out at the Class 2A State Meet with her 5th place finish.
SILVER DIVISION
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The only girl to compete in the silver division from LA is Ava Hartman of Newman. The sophomore and Class 2A cross country champion enters this competition with a slew of sub-19 minute performances over 3 miles. Her best mark comes from the St. Michael HS Warrior Run with her 18:13. Hartman has maintained a relatively undefeated season while only losing to two individuals.
GOLD DIVISION
The only two girls participating in the gold division are actually teammates. One of which is the Class 4A cross country state champion, Brynn Kelso of Vandebilt Catholic. After a varying season, Kelso pulled it together at the state meet and claimed the individual title. Arguably her best performance this season is the 5k at the 2021 Watson High School Meet where she finished with a time of 19:34.
Joining Kelso is the famed Ella Chesnut. The three-time state champion laid out some fast times throughout the season, especially with her win at the 2021 Watson High School Meet with a finishing time of 18:32 for 5k. Chesnut had a slip up at the state meet which cost her, what could have been, her fourth individual state title. Surely she is returning this weekend with the drive to close out her senior cross country season with a bang.