A Breakdown Of The RunningLane XC Girls Championship Race

RunningLane National Championships
Olivia Ekpone


*Bryan and Olivia pick their favorites for the RunningLane XC Championships from the Nov. 17 episode of On the Line

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This upcoming weekend, the John Hunt Park cross country course in Huntsville, Alabama, will host the RunningLane XC National Country Championships. Rumor has it, this course is fast so expect some top-notch performances.  

Over the last few weeks, several nationally-ranked girls teams and individuals have entered this championship. Of them, 16 runners have broken 18 minutes for 5K and will be going head-to-head. 

Below, we preview the major teams and individuals to watch on Saturday. 

View: RunningLane XC National Cross Country Championship Hub and the Boys' In-Depth Breakdown of the RunningLane XC Championships



*Mia Prok could potentially lead Niwot girls program to a victory this weekend at the RunningLane XC National Championships

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Big Teams to Watch:

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10. Niwot (CO)- As the MileSplit50 tenth-ranked girl's team, Niwot won four of the five meets it competed in this season, including the Colorado 4A Region 3 and overall 4A state titles. Freshman Mia Prok has been the Lady Cougars' leader throughout their title runs. 

13. Mountain Vista (CO)- The Golden Eagles are ranked No. 13 in the MileSplit50 rankings. Mountain Vista finished as the top team at the Continental League West Divison Championships with 17 points and had a 40 second split between runners one through five. A week later, it won the Colorado 5A Region 2 Cross Country Championships before it placed fourth at the state championships. This team faced Niwot over the last several weeks and haven't been able to finish ahead. This is a final chance at  redemption. 

HM. Bolles - Bolles dominated the state of Florida this cross country season. This team won FHSAA 2A District 4 and FHSAA 2A Region 1 with 15 points. Bolles earned it's second cross country state title in the last five years after going back and forth with Pine Crest. The Bulldogs scored 18 points this year to earn the state title. What's unique about this team is it has consistently posted a 60-second split between its top five runners. 

HM. Brentwood (TN) - Brentwood showcased early in the season that it's a team that should not be slept on. At the "Large Schools" Chickasaw Invitational and the "Large Schools" Jesse Owens Classic it won with 51 and 61 points respectively. The Lady Bruins edged out Independence at the TSSAA Region 6 meet by 10 points. At the Division 1 TSSAA State Cross Country Championships, it won with 101 points, 11 points ahead of Farragut. The Bruins have been capitalizing on every opportunity that is presented and will be a team that can shake things up on the course. 


*Birmingham Seaholm's Audrey Dadamio

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State Championship Pedigrees:

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*Vestavia Hill's Crawford West

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Potential Favorites:

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  • Jenna Hutchins, Science Hill (TN): Hutchins is ranked No. 1 in the state of Tennessee and has run the third-fastest time in the nation. She set a personal best of 16:25.08 for 5K at the "Large Schools" Chickasaw Invitational as her opener. The No. 1 runner on the MileSplit50 rankings won the Tennessee Region 1 Championship title with the highest speed rating by any girl this year with a 171. She later won her second TSSAA state title. 
  • Audrey Dadamio, Birmingham Seaholm (MI): Dadamio set a new personal best at the MITCA Michigan Meet of Champions of 17:10.90 for 5K, which is the 18th fastest time in the country. The senior also won her first cross country state title after she placed 11th a year ago.
  • Kaitlyn Vanderkolk, Brentwood (TN): Vanderkolk has paved the way for the Lady Bruins to team victories all season. She set a personal best of 17:45.98 at the "Large Schools" Jesse Owens Classic. She placed third at the TSSAA Region 6 and TSSAA State Cross Country Championships. She led Brentwood to the team state title with 101 points. 
  • Crawford West, Vestavia Hills (AL): Two of West's five races have been sub-18-minute-for-5K efforts this year. She set a personal best this year at the "Large Schools" Jesse Owens Classic in 17:34.29, which is the 45th fastest time in the nation. 
  • Mia Prok, Niwot (CO): The freshman was undefeated all season until she faced Air Academy's freshman, Bethany Michalak at the 4A Colorado State Cross Country Championships. Prok finished second, three seconds back from Michalak, but led Niwot to a team title with 55 points. Prok set a personal best this season at the Beet Juice Invite with a 17:38.00, which is the eighth-fastest time in Colorado. 


*Cookeville's Landri Wilcox

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Footlocker National Finalists in 2019:

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Jenna Hutchins, Science Hill (TN)

Audrey DaDamio, Birmingham Seaholm (MI)

Landri Wilcox, Cookeville (TN)


*Brentwood's Kaitlyn Vanderkol

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Runners to Watch

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  • Sophia Gorriaran, Moses Brown (RI): Despite having a short cross country season, she placed third at the RILL State Championships in a personal best of 18:14.07. 
  • Andie-Marie Jones, Maryville (TN): The junior's standout performance was at the "Large Schools" Jesse Owens Classic when she set a lifetime best of 17:37.25 for 5K.
  • Amber Schulz, Timber Creek (FL) -- Schulz has raced four times this season and hasn't finished worst than second. She set a personal best at her opening meet at the West Orange Invitational. She ran a 17:44.59. The junior won her first 4A FHSAA state title.
  • Landri Wilcox, Cookeville (TN): Wilcox ran her fastest time of the season of 17:48.13 earlier in the cross country season. The Tennessee signee raced to a second-place finish at the TSSAA State Cross Country Championships.
  • Avalon Mecham, American Fork (UT): The freshman placed 10th at Utah State Cross Country Championships and third at the Borders Utah Qualifier. She ran her first sub-18-minute 5K at this meet. 
  • Lucca Fulkerson, Niwot (CO): The Princeton signee finished third at the Kokopelli Invitational and 13th at the Colorado State Championships. 
  • Shayda Zarrin, Mountain Vista (CO): Zarrin ran a personal best at her opening meet at the Heritage Distance Classic. She crossed the finish line in 17:59 on the 5K course. Zarrin placed 12th at the Colorado State Championships. 
  • Brooke Tyll, Brentwood (TN): During this cross country season Tyll ran one sub-18-minute for 5K performance at the "Large Schools" Jesse Owens Classic, while she set a personal best of 17:59.66. Tyll finished 9th at the TSSAA State Cross Country Championships. 
  • Leigh Walters, Fred J. Page, (TN): Walters was seventh at the Divison 1 Girls Tennessee State Championships. 
  • Hope Stark, Cheyenne Mountain (CO): Stark finished seventh at the 4A Colorado State Championships.


*Science Hill's Jenna Hutchins

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Unofficial All-American (Top 15) Predictions:

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1. Jenna Hutchins, Science Hill (TN); 2. Audrey Dadamio, Birmingham Seaholm (MI); 3. Crawford West, Vestavia (AL); 4. Mia Prok, Niwot (CO); 5. Andie-Marie Jones, Maryville (TN); 6. Landri Wilcox, Cookeville, (TN); 7. Kaitlyn Vanderkolk, Brentwood (TN); 8. Leigh Walters, Fred J. Paige (TN); 9. Amber Shulz, Timber Creek (FL); 10. Hope Stark, Cheyenne Mountain (CO); 11. Madison Shults, Niwot (CO); 12. Brooke Tyll, Brentwood (TN); 13. Lucca Fulkerson, Niwot (CO); 14. Mary Brady, St. Pius X (GA); 15. Avalon Mecham, American Fork (UT)


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