Tessa crushes the course and competitors and is now #7 in the country. (Photo by Don Rich)
Saucony Elite 50 Individual Girls | Week 8
*Editor's Note: The Saucony Elite 50 refers to the top-50 individuals in the country (25 boys and 25 girls).
Well, another great weekend of State Championship action is in the books and what a weekend it was. Tessa Barrett (PA) moves up the rankings to #7 after a stunning performance at the PA state meet with a 17:30 course record clocking. She now owns the only two sub-18 efforts on the layout, and she ran unchallenged for over 4400 meters! For reference, PA greats Carly Seymour and Kacey Gibson have cracked 18 on the easier Hershey layout that was retired in 2007. Another great state performance was put in by #15 Audrey Belf (MI) who won the Division 1 race over watchlister Lauren Brasure.
#10 Hannah Debalsi (CT) won a state title over watchlister Claire Howlett by 30 seconds and looks to be in good championship season form as well. Another big addition to the rankings was #13 Samantha Ortega (CA) who ran an incredible #7 all-time 16:47 at Mt. SAC in one of the later varsity races on Saturday.
Annika Avery (NY) was added to the watch list after leading the girls of Fayetteville-Manlius to a state berth by winning their section with ease. Also added to the watch list were Mackenzie Caldwell (IN), Mary Grace Doggett (NC), Hannah Gindlesberger (OR) and Kirsten Olling (MI).
Stay tuned for another exciting week of XC coming this week and of course each week as we bring you the Saucony Elite 50 Individual Girls every Monday morning!
| Rank | Time | Year | Name | School | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16:35 | Jr. | Alexa Efraimson | Camas | WA |
| 2 | 15:57 3.0M | Sr. | Sarah Baxter | Simi Valley | CA |
| 3 | 16:45 | Sr. | Elise Cranny | Niwot | CO |
| 4 | 16:47.20 | So. | Taylor Werner | Ste. Genevieve | MO |
| 5 | 16:35.31 3.0M | Jr. | Makena Morley | Big Fork | MT |
| 6 | 16:56 3.0M | Sr. | Anna Maxwell | San Lorenzo Valley | CA |
| 7 | 17:26 | Sr. | Tessa Barrett | Abington Heights | PA |
| 8 | 17:35.34 | Fr. | Lauren Gregory | Fort Collins | CO |
| 9 | 17:11 | Sr. | Caroline Alcorta | West Springfield | VA |
| 10 | 17:35.9 | So. | Hannah DeBalsi | Staples | CT |
| 11 | 16:57 | So. | Stephanie Jenks | Linn-Mar | IA |
| 12 | 17:17.50 | Jr. | Hannah Long | Eureka | MO |
| 13 | 16:47 3.0M | Jr. | Samantha Ortega | Saugus | CA |
| 14 | 17:47.2 | Jr. | Jordyn Colter | Cherry Creek | CO |
| 15 | 17:02.8 | Jr. | Audrey Belf | Seaholm | MI |
| 16 | 17:31.80 | So. | Katie Rainsberger | Air Academy | CO |
| 17 | 16:54 3.0M | So. | Fiona O'Keeffe | Davis | CA |
| 18 | 16:20 3.0M | Jr. | Marissa Williams | Palisades Charter | CA |
| 19 | 16:47.8 | Jr. | Allie Ostrander | Kenai Central | AK |
| 20 | 16:53 3.0M | Sr. | Sarah Feeny | Ogden | UT |
| 21 | 16:53.30 3.0M | Jr. | Lucy Biles | Herriman | UT |
| 22 | 17:08.70 | Sr. | Abbie McNulty | Bishop Feehan | MA |
| 23 | 16:54.1 | So. | Ella Donaghu | Grant | OR |
| 24 | 16:46.2 3.0M | Sr. | Courtney Smith | Unionville | PA |
| 25 | 14:32.1 | Sr. | Autumn Eastman | Champlain Valley | VT |
| Watch List (Alphabetical Order): Annika Avery (NY); Madie Boreman (TX); Lauren Brasure (MI); Bella Burda (NY); Mackenzie Caldwell (IN); Mady Clahane (PA); Destiny Collins (CA); Mary Grace Doggett (NC); Clare Flanagan (MN); Anna French (MN); Briana Gess (NJ); Hannah Gindlesberger (OR); Annie Heffernan (OH); Claire Howlett (CT); Dani Jones (AZ); Allie Klimkiewicz (VA); Bethan Knights (CA); Madi McLellan (TX); Kayla Montgomery (NC); Josette Norris (NJ); Kirsten Olling (MI); Amelia Paladino (WV); Sara Tsai (OR); Kennedy Weisner (PA); Kelcy Welch (IN) | |||||