Local girls cross country teams are seeing plenty of success so far this season before the big region meets later this month and before the state championships in November.

With many of the teams in position to contend for region and state titles, it’s time to look at a few who have stood out and made impressive showings so far this season.

Lexington

The Lexington girls cross country is riding high after winning the Wendy’s Invitational in Charlotte this past weekend. The victory was the first time since 2018 that a South Carolina school won the event. 

The Wildcats have an impressive season so far considering how young they are. Freshman Kendra Miles and Jadyn Gandy have had great seasons to help lead the team and have gotten help from middle schoolers like Ellie Patangan and Brooklynne Cox who have stepped up and contributed in a huge way. Lexington has also had some veteran leadership guide this young roster with the help of juniors Ava Kanitkar, Laurel Walls and Lydia Metz.

Head coach Tanner Graham feels confident that his young group of girls can exceed expectations as they go into region championships and beyond.

River Bluff

The River Bluff girls cross country team has also gotten off to a great start this season and has positioned themselves well going into the most important stretch. So far, the Gators are ranked seventh in the state in the 5A classification and have had several runners put up impressive results.

Leah Esber ran the fourth fastest time in program history earlier this season. Not only would this be a career defining feat for any runner, it’s more impressive when you take into account that she is still in the eighth grade and is ranked as the number five eighth grade runner in the state.

Along with Esber, fellow eighth grader Ella Willis has a highlight of her own, clocking the sixth best time for a middle schooler in River Bluff history. 

 Madelyn Cathey ran the fifth fastest time in program history and is in the top ten among all sophomores in the state. Abby Tinsman is the third Gator to have a run that ranks top ten in school history as she clocked in with the tenth fastest time earlier this season.

Braelyn Davis had one of the nine fastest runs by a Gator in school history Meridian Mangione ran one of the ten fastest times for a senior in River Bluff program history.  

Pelion

The Pelion girls team has dominated so far this season, winning four of the six meets they have participated in so far: the Batesburg Invitational, Aiken Invitational, Camden Invitational and the Gilbert Chop Town Classic. Even in the other two meets where they lost, they still finished in the top three in both.

Sophomore Claire Lowrimore leads the team this season with individual wins in an impressive four of her five appearances. 

This is a young Panthers team with 12 of their 14 members being freshman or younger. Some of those young contributors include freshman Dani New and eighth graders MJ Saul and Emma Fallaw. Saul finished as high as second at the Gilbert meet and Fallaw finished as high as second at Batesburg. 

Despite their youth, the Panthers rank sixth in the state in the 2A classification.

Gray Collegiate

Gray Collegiate head coach Kevin Heise has strong hopes for his girls team this season as they entered with their top five runners from last season returning for another season. Those top returners are Caroline Cantrell, Kaylee Nettles, Italia Riches, Peighton Johnson and Zay Waller. 

The top runner for this season, however, has been freshman Olivia Swisher at 22:31. The team captain this season for the War Eagles is sophomore Marydavis Hallman.

Heise believes this team is in position to have their best season ever at Gray Collegiate. They currently sit ranked ninth in the state in the 2A classification. 

American Leadership Academy

Being a new school, ALA got a late start to their season and is very young and inexperienced.

According to coach Julia Norcia, the team has made great strides throughout the season and are looking forward to being placed in a South Carolina High School Sports League classification next season.

Irmo

The Irmo girls cross country team has been led by Sophie Hall but has had several other runners excel and are close to surpassing the goals set by themselves and coach Jeanette Farr. One of those goals is to get under 21 minutes by the time region meet rolls around.

“We all have one goal in mind. Give it everything we got and persevere through pain because that is a fundamental life skill. We have a few meets left this season to shatter our goals and the coaches are so proud of each of our runners and the progress they have made and will make,” Farr said.

Northside Christian

Northside Christian had big expectations this year with the return of SCISA 3A state champion Jennifer Gause and state runner-up Kendall Murray from a team that finished third in the state.

According to coach Stephen McNeill, Murray has paced the team this year with a time of 19:31. They’re also getting great contribution and a career best performance from senior captain Natalie Walke, who is running her best times.

Middle schoolers Madison Gause, Kaylee Thompson, Campbell Childers and newcomer Taylor Davis helped push the Crusaders to a second place finish in the Camden Invitational and the SCA Invitational as well as wins at Ninety-Six and Richard Winn.

The region meet will be Oct. 17 in Sumter and the state meet will be Oct. 28 at Heathwood Hall.