Sophomore Girls Talent Spread Across All Classes
Unlike maybe a few of the Freshmen girls, these names are familiar and if they're not, you better get familiar with them. Headlined by last years Class A State Champ, Anna Rupp, this Sophomore class is a very deep one with even more state champ potential.
The talented Anna Rupp will have a target on her back as she begins her second year competing for Lexington Christian Academy. She's been the one to beat in Class A over the long distances as I mentioned before, she's the returning Class A XC Champion and in that championship race she ran her second fastest time of the season, 19:02.50. She's also coming off of a state championship track season as she captured the title in the Class A 3200m run with her fastest time of the season 11:43.82. Those two times show that if she's able to stay healthy the whole season her training can get her to peak at the PERFECT time. Expect more great things from Rupp this season.
As I mentioned this list is comprised as some of the top dogs in each of the classes and coming in as the number two sophomore returner is the Class AA state XC runner-up Addi Dewey of Christian Academy of Louisville (CAL). She's a major key to her schools young core of talent and she'll be eyeing a cross country state title this year gunning for Highlands' Maggie Schroeder. She's also another one who came back to the oval this spring with an impressive 3rd place 3200m state finish setting herself up for a great sophomore campaign.
The final of the top three returning sophomore is someone who I think could have a breakout year and surprise a lot of people. With the graduation of Katy Chapman, someone on the defending state team champion Oldham County squad will need to step up and fill that void if they're going to compete with an extremely strong duPont Manual team. I think that could very well be Jacquelyn Ellsworth. Last year she was her teams third scorer at the state meet coming through the line 12th in 20:06.84. There's a lot of talent out in Buckner, KY and I believe Ellsworth will be an integral part to their winning formula for many years to come.
Others to Watch:
| RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATE PLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18:47.00 | Lexington Christian | 2022 | |
| 2 | 18:55.30 | Christian Academy (Louisville) | 2022 | |
| 3 | 18:58.20 | Oldham County | 2022 |