Class A girls season preview

jayslagle
Aug 28
10 min read

Contributor: The Nerd

2024 State teams (max possible returners)

1. 54 Millard West (5 returners)

2. 93 Lincoln Southwest (6)

3. 98 Kearney (6)

4. 161 Papillion-La Vista (5)

5. 162 Omaha Marian (5)

6. 171 Elkhorn South (5)

7. 183 Papio South (4)

8. 195 Lincoln East (3)

9. 212 Millard South (5)

10. 213 Lincoln High (6)

11. 238 Norfolk (5)

12. 245 North Platte (4)

Top returners (notable 2025 track results)

3 Abbigail Durow, 12, Millard South (soccer in spring)

4 Mabel Henningsen, 10, Omaha Marian 2:19, 5:31 (limited racing)

5 Grace Volzke, 11, Elkhorn South 2:20, 5:18, 11:28

8 Alexis Chadek, 12, Papillion-La Vista 2:14 (1^st A), 5:11

10 Tatum Neilson, 12, Bellevue West 2:18, 5:14 (6^th A)

11 Layla Phillips, 12, Papillion-La Vista (hurdles)

13 Kori McClain, 12, North Platte 2:17 (5^th A), 5:12 (9^th A)

14 Sydney Wendt, 12, Lincoln High 5:25, 11:47

15 Sadie Osher, 11, Millard West 5:23, 11:37

16 Katelyn Sanne, 12, Millard West 5:39, 12:16 (limited)

17 Meredith Marsh, 11, Lincoln Southwest 5:15 (7^th A), 11:12 (6^th A)

18 Augusta Ganz, 11, Kearney 2:22 (8^th A)

19 Silvy Munn, 12, Lincoln Southwest (5:40, 12:12 in limited racing)

20 Hannah Soucie, 10, Lincoln Southwest (no 2025 T&F results)

21 Dawson Kreycik, 12, Kearney 2:27, 5:15 (8^th A), 11:10 (4^th A) 5:31 PR as 10^th grader

22 Lucy Fierro, 12, Omaha Westview 2:29

25 Olivia McKlem, 11, Millard West 5:27 11:57

26 Taia Green, 10, Millard West (no 2025 T&F results)

28 Katie Johnsen, 12, Grand Island 5:34, 12:28

29 Emily Scott, 12, Millard West 2:15 (4^th A), 4x800 (1^st A)

31 Victoria Sinitsky, 10, Lincoln Southwest 2:36, 5:51 (limited racing)

32 Kierra Wilson, 10, Kearney 5:39, 12:11

33 Olivia Linderman, 9, Lincoln Southwest 2:48, 6:02

34 Sammara Alfayo, 11, Lincoln Northeast (no 2025 T&F results)

35 Emma Wasilewski, 11, Papillion-La Vista (no 2025 T&F results)

36 Melissa Gomez-Vazquez, 12, Columbus 6:02, 12:42

42 Harper Keber, 11, Elkhorn South 2:30, 5:56

43 Ashlyn Carter, 11, Papio South 2:16 (2^nd A), 5:10 (4^th A) – 6 sub-5:16 1600’s, prior PR was 5:43

44 Savannah Kelliher, 12, Kearney (no 2025 T&F results)

45 Maya Freyer, 10, Omaha Marian 2:31, 5:38, 12:05

46 Caitlin Steliga, 11, Omaha Westside 5:41, 12:28

47 Addison Garringer, 10, Kearney (sprints)

48 Lily Larson, 10, Lincoln High 6:02, 13:36

49 Katelyn Sullivan, 11, Millard South 5:26, 11:45

50 Jerusha Osborne, 12, Lincoln High 5:56, 12:52

There are no classification changes for Class A for the 2025 XC season. As a reminder, Class A teams are allowed to run up to seven athletes at Districts and State, and the placement of the top five athletes is used to calculate a team’s point title.

Abigail Burger of Kearney and Kate Ebmeier of Millard West dominated the Class A distance scene last year. Burger took top honors at the State XC meet, breaking away from a pack of six girls at the two-mile mark to win by four seconds over Ebmeier. Kate returned the favor in the spring, capturing the 1600 and 3200 titles in 5:03 and 10:37, just ahead of Burger’s 5:04 and 10:39.

In the 2024 meet, Millard West dominated the team race with their girls finishing 2^nd, 6^th, 15^th, 16^th, 25^th, 26^th and 29^th. While they have lost Ebmeier and 6^th-place Litzey Fredette to graduation, they have a strong squad returning in 2025: Sadie Osher (15^th, 5:23 and 11:37 in the spring), Katelyn Sanne (16^th, 5:39, 12:16), Olvia McKlem (25^th, 5:27, 11:57), Taia Green (26^th, no T&F results) and Emily Scott (29^th, 2:15). Millard West should have plenty of candidates among its large team to fill out the varsity spots. Lucia Milone had a solid spring with season bests of 5:53 and 12:15, Natalie McGranaghan ran 2:22 and 5:38, Allyson Wilber posted PRs of 1:01 and 2:23 (State qualifier), Eliza Schukar ran 2:31 and 5:39 (plus a 19:57 at NXR last fall as a freshman), Chaya Isaacson posted a 5:55, and Emme Castillo ran 5:55.

Lincoln Southwest finished 2^nd in 2024 and will be in the mix for the team title. They graduated their 4^th finisher, Mya Kafka, but return Meredith Marsh (17^th, 5:15, 11:12), Silvy Munn (19^th, 5:40, 12:12), Hannah Soucie (20^th, no T&F results), Victoria Sinitsky ( 31^st, 2:36, 5:51), Olivia Linderman (33^rd, 2:48, 6:02) and Izzy Gibertson (67^th, 2:20, State T&F qualifier). In addition, Piper Petersen qualified individually for State XC after finishing 9^th at Districts last fall but was not on the State team; she had an exceptional spring, recording PRs of 2:29, 5:31 and 11:52. Bella Miron is a junior who did not compete in cross country her first two years but had a very successful spring, qualifying for State T&F in the 1600 and 3200, with season bests of 2:26, 5:21 and 11:35. Lincoln Southwest placed four girls in the HAC JV top ten last fall, and they should easily fill their final varsity spots with quality runners. LSW typically has a strong freshman class, and this year’s crop includes Genevah Herzberg, who finished 3^rd at the 2024 Junior High State XC meet.

If you thought only these two teams are in the title hunt, I’d like to present two other contenders. Kearney finished 3^rd in 2024, just three points behind Lincoln Southwest, and returns everyone except Burger. More importantly, while none of the returners were medalists last year, several had very strong track seasons. Augusta Ganz (18^th in 2024, 2:22, 8^th place in Class A), Dawson Kreycik (21^st, 5:15, 11:10), Kierra Wilson (5:39, 12:11) and Blaire May (70^th, 1:00, 2:21) headline a seasoned team. Savannah Kelliher (44^th, no track results) and Addison Garringer (47^th, sprinter) also return.

Papillion LaVista finished 4^th in 2024 and loses two runners – Emma Wasilewski (35^th) to club soccer and Grace Carlson (89^th) to graduation. However, they return three previous State XC medalists: 3X State medalist and 2025 800-meter champion Alexis Chadek (8^th, 2:14, 5:11), 3x State T&F hurdle medalist Layla Phillips (11^th) and 2x State T&F medalist Gracie Suppes (9^th at 2023 State XC, 2:20, 5:34). Suppes was injured most of last fall and did not compete at State. State squad returners also include Annie Finneron (66^th, 2:33, 6:01), Maya Anderson (77^th, 2:31, 6:11) and Emalyn Steingiesser (12:54). We were hoping that Papio might pick up the freshmen Skradsi twins, who were both top 20 at Junior High State XC, but they appear to be playing softball this fall. Papio has the high-end talent but just needs two more girls to step up to get them in the mix for a podium spot.

Led by freshman Mabel Henningsen’s 4^th place finish, Omaha Marian finished 5^th in the team standings in 2024, tying their best finish in the last fifteen years (2013, 2020). They return five State competitors. Henningsen was injured most of the spring but still ran 2:19 and 5:31 in limited action; if she returns to top form, she could improve upon her 2024 placement. Other key teammates include Maya Freyer (45^th, 5:31, 5:38, 12:05), Harper Cowles (JV in 2024, 2:25, 5:35), Maeve Wharton (80^th, 12:13), Lena Sabata (JV in 2024, 2:33), Niamh McGarry (64^th, 6:13, 13:29) and Ava Desmet (88^th, 6:01). Marian also has four freshmen who are expected to be top-10 runners for the team: Julia Kubat (1:05, 2:35, 5:47, and niece of 1993 Class A State champion Dan Hoarty), Tatum Houghton (1:11, 2:41, 5:47), Elizabeth Morgan (2:36, 6:02) and Louise Walker (2:50, 6:17).

We publish weekly XC rankings to build interest in the sport but not all coaches appreciate them. Papio South coach Jeremy Haselhorst embraces them. In his view, ‘pressure is a privilege,’ and it helps prepare athletes for the expectations they’ll face as students, employees, spouses and parents. We’re not sure that Papio South has the depth to vie for a team title this fall, but two Titan athletes should excel. After finishing 43^rd at State XC last fall, junior Ashlyn Carter went turbo in the track season by running six sub-5:16 1600s, setting PRs of 2:16 and 5:10, and finishing 2^nd at State in the 800 and 4^th in the 1600. She is the fastest returner in the 1600 and the second fastest (behind Chadek) in the 800.

However, Ashlyn doesn’t have the fastest 1600 PR in Class A this season. That distinction belongs to Titan freshman Emily Hegge, who ran a 4:55 1600 in May before winning the Junior High State title at Gothenburg with a 4:59. Most junior high meets don’t include the 3200 so how do we know if she’ll compete well beyond 1600 meters? Well, she finished 2^nd in 2023 and 2024 in the highly-competitive Junior High State XC meet. In addition, Emily ran a 10:06 3000 at a USATF meet in April that converts to a 10:50 3200, which is also the fastest PR among the Class A field. Keep in mind that Emily posted these times while running solo well ahead of the field. Based on Emily’s consistent results in 7^th and 8^th grade, and the fact that Coach Haselhorst has had input into her low-mileage training approach for the past year, we expect Emily to continue her upward trajectory. For that reason, she’ll be the first freshman to receive the top spot in our preseason rankings.

There are a number of teams that are not expected to be in the top three this season but do have girls who should be in the mix this season:

· Abbi Durow of Millard South is the highest-place returner this fall after finishing 3^rd in 2024. She plays soccer in the spring so we don’t have a recent barometer of her fitness. However, given that she’s placed 8^th, 7^th and 3^rd at State in her first three years, we expect that she’ll compete for the individual title. Millard South returns one other top-50 finisher, Katelyn Sullivan, who had had an excellent spring with PRs of 5:26 and 11:45.

· Grace Volzke (5^th, 2:20, 5:18, 11:28) leads an Elkhorn South team that returns five competitors from last year’s squad. Among the other returners, Ava Hurst (2:26, 5:49) and Nora Friesen (2:33 4x800 split) had the strongest springs.

· Tatum Nielson of Bellevue West heads into her senior season on a hot streak. After finishing 10^th at State XC, she hit the medal trifecta at State T&F with three PRs of 2:18 (3^rd), 5:14 (6^th) and 11:08 (3^rd).

· Kori McClain didn’t run cross country until her junior year so her 13^th place finish last fall was unexpected. However, she’s qualified for State in the 800 her first three years, finishing 5^th in May, and she finished 9^th in the 1600 with her 5:18. With PRs of 2:17 and 5:12, she seems poised to improve upon her placement from last year.

· Lincoln High looks to improve on its 10^th place finish last year with their top five competitors returning. Sydney Wendt finished 14^th last fall and followed up with PRs of 5:25 and 11:47 in the spring. Abby Kruse was 51^st at State XC and saw improvements in the spring, running 2:22 and 5:28 to qualify for State in both events.

· Lucy Fierro from Omaha Westview is the 16^th highest returner from last fall but did not compete during track season. Her teammate Ella Padomek didn’t qualify for State XC last year but had a strong spring, running 2:31 and 5:27, and Ella was part of Westside’s first State relay medal in the 4x800. To my knowledge, Westview had not had a cross country State medalist in its first three years, so Lucy or Ella would make history if they could break into the top 15.

· Katie Johnson of Grand Island finished 28^th last fall and had a productive spring, setting PRs of 5:34 and 12:28. Caitlin Steliga of Omaha Westside ran 5:41 and 12:28 after her 46^th-place finish while teammate Eliana Whittman hopes to return to State after missing last fall; she ran 2:32, 5:39 and 12:16. Amelia Schupbach of Lincoln East ran 2:34, 5:26 and 12:21. The Class A field is getting faster so these ladies have a big challenge ahead of them.

· We’ve been watching Maya Wagner run for, what, ten years now? She’s finally a freshman at Fremont and should grab a varsity spot quickly. She finished 7^th at JH State XC last fall and ran 2:34 and 5:42 during the spring. Whitney Leach will be a freshman at Omaha Westside; she finished 11^th at JH State XC and ran 2:38 and 5:46 (converted from 1500) in the spring.

Team predictions

The Class A coaches will issue five or six polls during the season. As is our custom, we only issue one team ranking, and that is our pre-season prediction. This one is tough. Both Millard West and Lincoln Southwest have four girls who have run sub-12:20. Millard West has potentially five sub-5:40 girls while LSW has four. Both teams have at least seven girls with solid track resumes, but I’m going to give the nod to Millard West in what should be a very tight competition.

1. Millard West

2. Lincoln Southwest

3. Papio LaVista

4. Kearney

5. Papio South

Individual rankings

We’ll post our preseason rankings on the Rankings tab at www.preprunningnerd.com and we’ll update them almost every week during the season.

Errors and omissions

Our season previews are based on prior results and an assumption that underclassmen competing at State in 2024 will run again this year. If you’re aware of an error in the article above, or have information on an impactful runner not listed above, please email jayslagle@hotmail.com so we can determine whether the article should be updated. Our goal as volunteers is to be a resource for fans of Nebraska high school country, but we readily acknowledge that we need feedback from followers and coaches to provide accurate information.

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Originally written and published in August 2025 at www.preprunningnerd.com.

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