NORTHSHORE'S GRACE KEENE COMPETES IN A MEET DURING HER FRESHMAN SEASON
It's the final MileSplit LA Girls Performer of the Week poll as begin to wrap up the 2025 Louisiana High School cross country season. Congratulations to the finalists who either won state championships last week in Natchitoches or-in one case-finished as the state runner-up. The winner of this poll will move on to compete for next week's MileSplit LA Girls Runner of the Year award. The poll will close at 9pm on Saturday.
GRACE KEENE (NORTHSHORE)-- The sophomore added another state championship to her impressive resume by picking up her first state title in cross country after finishing third last year as a freshman. She finished with a personal record time of 17:21, which is the fastest time in Louisiana this year, ranks No. 3 all-time for Louisiana sophomore girls, and broke the record of 17:25 in Division I girls set by Baton Rouge's Lucy Thomas last year.
As far as the No. 3 ranking for sophomore girls is concerned, only St. Thomas Aquinas' Malia Cali (16:52) and Parkview Baptist's Lucy Cramer (17:12) have run faster.
However, on the state championship course in Natchitoches, only Cali's time of 17:16 in 2007 is faster than Keene's performance.
Keene prepared herself mentally before stepping to the starting line.
"I told myself it's now or never," Keen said. " 'You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.' It means a lot to me."
"It's a great way to finish the season and leave everything out there. It's so wonderful to end it all like this."
After the race, Keene was asked about the biggest difference between her sophomore season and her freshman campaign.
"I think I was smarter this year about training and what to do and recovery," Keene said. "Just the basic components outside of training...like hydrating and sleep. I just really got that down, and preparing for my races. That's the biggest difference."
EMMA ALDANA HUELGA(THE WILLOW SCHOOL)-- Led a talented group of eighth graders in the Division 2 race at the LHSAA State Cross Country Championships and came away with her first state cross country championship. Aladana Huelga won with a time of 18:28.
She adds her fourth state championship to her collection after pulling off the distance triple last May at the LHSAA State Outdoor Championships.
"The conditions were not as favorable as I thought they would be," Aladana-Huelga said."It was very hot, but I did what I could out of it and came out with a win."
Aldana-Huelga used the experience she gained last year from running on the state championship course as a seventh grader to help her make it to the top of the podium this year.
"It feels great," Aldana-Huelgo said. "Last year wasn't a great race so to come out and be able to do this this year...I'm thankful. (Competing last year) It gave me a lot more confidence and showed me that I can race with these girls."
NEVA LAMBERT(EPISCOPAL)--Lambert finished at the runner-up in Division 3 behind Parkview Baptist's Molly Cramer, who is not on the ballot because she has won a MileSplit LA Performer of the Week poll earlier this season. Lambert's time was 18:23 and she led the Knights to a runner-up finish in the Division 3 girls division.
VARENKA ZHUK (METAIRIE PARK COUNTRY DAY)-- Another youngster who impressed at the 2025 LHSAA State Cross Country Championships. Zhuk won the Division 4 title and led her Metairie Park Country Day team to a successful defense of their team title. Zhuk's 18:19 was just ahead of defending Division 4 champion--Hathaway's Katilyn Sawyer (18:30).
"I was really nervous at first," Zhuk said. "I was just conservative at first and it allowed me to have a good kick at the end."
Zhuk was asked about her freshmen season and how it compared to the expectations she had coming in.
"I expected this," Zhuk said. "I just wanted to have fun and do my very best."
Zhuk had a time season best of 17:42 earlier in the season at the LCA Knights Invitational. That time put her at No. 2 all-time for Louisiana high school freshmen girls. Only Molly Cramer's 17:06 last year ranks ahead of Zhuk.
Zhuk's time of 18:19 ranked No. 2 all-time in LHSAA State Meet Division 2. Emma Bourg's record time of 17:57 will give Zhuk something to shoot for when she heads into her sophomore season.
REESE JEANE (EVANS)-- Jeane is no stranger to the big stage, and her even-keel demeanor allowed her to win the Division 5 state championship. It wasn't easy. The talented field included Christ Episcopal's Noah Watson, who was winner of the last three state championships.
"Just win," Jeane said on her mindset going into the race. "I just really wanted to win today.
Jeane credited her win with the training she put in over the summer.
"If you don't train in the summer, you are not going to have a good season," Jeane said.
Now, Jeane looks forward to finishing her high school career in her favorite setting--the track.
"It's just funner to me," Jeane said.
NORTHSHORE'S GRACE KEENE COMPETES IN A MEET DURING HER FRESHMAN SEASON
It's the final MileSplit LA Girls Performer of the Week poll as begin to wrap up the 2025 Louisiana High School cross country season. Congratulations to the finalists who either won state championships last week in Natchitoches or-in one case-finished as the state runner-up. The winner of this poll will move on to compete for next week's MileSplit LA Girls Runner of the Year award. The poll will close at 9pm on Saturday.
GRACE KEENE (NORTHSHORE)-- The sophomore added another state championship to her impressive resume by picking up her first state title in cross country after finishing third last year as a freshman. She finished with a personal record time of 17:21, which is the fastest time in Louisiana this year, ranks No. 3 all-time for Louisiana sophomore girls, and broke the record of 17:25 in Division I girls set by Baton Rouge's Lucy Thomas last year.
