The three-time defending champions, Vandebilt Catholic, are looking to become four-time champions, which would make the seniors on the team champions throughout their high school experience. However, that is challenged by Teurlings Catholic and St. Michael this year.
Vandebilt Catholic has been dominating the 4A girls field for the past four years. The odds of them being able to continue this streak is fairly high. What has greatly contributed to this are the trio of Ella Chesnut, Brynn Kelso, and Logan Hamilton. Chesnut's past two performances have been very impressive after her finish at the Watson High School Meet and the STA Bruce O'Krepki Invite. Both of these runs have solidified her as one of the best talents in not only 4A, but the state.
Ella Chesnut (left) and Jenna Key (right) kicking at the Watson High School Meet
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The same standard goes for Kelso and Hamilton. Though their performances have not been as fast as in 2020, they are still formidable runners that are considered to be some of the best in 4A. Also do not be surprised if Chesnut and Kelso snag a 1-2 finish at the state meet, it may be difficult but it is definitely still in the cards.
Gracean Schexnayder and Madelene Sonnier round out the top five. Both of these runners have the chance to finish within the top ten or even the top ten. These two really provide the edge over the rest of the teams in this competition.
Teurlings Catholic has a strong top four runners but are subject to the success of its fifth or sixth runner. The team's top four could land themselves in the top ten, with Lexi Guidry leading the way with a season-best of 18:56. Guidry is all too familiar with facing off against the Vandebilt girls. Expect her to duke it out with them.
Also possibly making an appearance in the top ten is Angelle Dupuis. This is her first year running cross country so it will be interesting to see how she fares on the state course along with the other top runners in 4A. Following not too far behind Dupuis are freshman Ariana Lowenstein and Paige Broussard. Lowenstein is another first-timer and is facing the same conditions Dupuis is; Broussard, on the other hand, is experienced and could help pull her along during the state meet. Broussard finished 17th in 2020, but it is hard to tell if she and Lowenstein will be able to pull off a top ten finish.
Lexi Guidry at the St. Joseph's Invitational
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St. Michael is more of a challenger towards Teurlings rather than Vandebilt. They are more likely to place the majority of its runners between Teurlings runners and disrupt their chance against Vandebilt. The team has a low-stick followed by a very tight pack of five other runners.
Surprisingly, St. Michael's low-stick is a senior that transferred from Runnels and has made a large impact on the team. The previous Class B runner, Blaiklee Guillot, has posted a season-best of 19:48 and could land anywhere within the top ten.
Behind her is a very close following of Natalie Bauder, Sayla Fogos, Lindsey Hunt, Evelyn White, Abigail McLeod, and Ava Barnett. These runners conclude the team's top seven and they are all just within 23 seconds of each other based on their season-best. This team is incredibly great at pack running and it should be considered a great threat for other teams.
Keep in mind of Fiona Collins of Ben Franklin. She has consistently run under 20-minutes for 3 miles. She finished 26th last year and she will surely not finish that far back this year. She has dropped a significant amount of time off from last year and is clearly ready to be in the running for an all-state position.
Kayla Ballard (right) taking third at the Wallace Martin Cedar Creek Invitational
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Next to watch out for is Kayla Ballard of Caddo Magnet. She could be the next individual to fall in behind Collins for an all-state position. She is by no means a runner to underestimate and should be watched carefully during the state meet.