Texas girls distance running has been on the rise for about a decade and it's been a furiously fast trend in the direction of up and to the right.
Despite some of the best of all-time graduating and moving onto the collegiate level year after year, more talented runners arrive and receive the high level of coaching we have in the state.
This year, is no different. So far, there are 17 girls who have already run under 18-minutes for 5,000 meters.
Here are how I'd rank the top ten girls thus far this season.
Photo Credit: Raymond Tran/MileSplit OH
1. Elizabeth Leachman (Boerne Champion)
Arguably, Leachman is the best runner in the country and there is little to legitimately deny it. She has taken a couple of weeks off, but to start her 2024 campaign going 16:32 and 16:39.
As the latter part of the season approaches, look for her to really hammer the meaningful races.
Unfortunately, Leachman is under the guidance of her third coach at Boerne Champion in the last calendar year.
Luckily for her, she has had knowledgeable coaches. Her current coach is Shiela West who used to coach at New Braunfels/Comal Canyon where she guided elite runners in the likes of Alex Rogers and Sam Worley.
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2. Macy Wingard (Denton Braswell)
Wingard has raced as few times as Leachman has, but similarly, they have been just as impressive runs. She won both of her races against the best in the DFW resulting in 17:06 and 17:09 performances.
It looks like Wingard is on the same calendar and racing plan as Leachman. Talents like these have the most important races ahead of them and more training than competing is the key.
Photo Credit: Christine Langford/MileSplit TX
3. Sophia Bendet (Universal City Randolph)
Bendet has been quite the pleasant surprise of the season. As a 3A classification runner, she doesn't compete at the 5,000m distance in the championship season.
However, that hasn't stopped her from crushing it the past two weeks on two of the more challenging courses in the state. All the Texas A&M commit did was run a 17:23 course record at the Texas A&M Invitation followed by a new 17:10 PR at the McNeil Invitational.
Bendet will eventually drop down to two-mile races. The defending 3A state champ has already blazed 10:35 and 10:39 races on grass. How she'll transfer back to 5,000m for the post season is what we'll watch. Last year, she 17:39 and 17:55 after the state meet.
Photo Credit: Christine Langford/MileSplit TX
4. Elin Latta (South Texas Heat HomeSchool)
Latta is the only freshman on this list. That is a little surprising, but it's also slightly to be expected with the talent and experience of the Texas girls. The homeschooler has her own impressive resume despite being in her first year of high school running.
The only person to beat Latta this year is Bendet and each race has been close throughout the first two miles. Her 5,000m results this season are 17:23, 17:45, and 17:58. Not only is she one of only three girls to run sub 18-minutes three times this season she has run faster and faster every time.
Photo Credit: Christine Langford/MileSplit TX
5. Maya Easterwood (Coppell)
Easterwood had a breakthrough at the end of the 2023 season; this year, she began on a heater. The Coppell sophomore has four races in the 17s and her slowest time is a 18:05. Nobody else has that kind of high level consistency.
She is a laser focused athlete and has the racing aggression few youngsters possess. Several of her upcoming races will be against the reigning state champion, so it is likely her racing trends will continue.
Photo Credit: Jessie McCabe/MileSplit TX
6. Ava Cole (Flower Mound)
Cole is having a breakthrough season of her own. She opened up with a 1:14 two-mile followed up by 17:43 and 17:52 runs. This past weekend, She ran a 16:27 three-mile in California.
She has had to carry the team leading duties and hasn't missed a beat. Cole has kept Flower Mound as the best team in the state and her running helps make them look hard to beat.
Cole seems to get better with every race. She will be even more dangerous when her teammate Fox is competing consistently. When team and individual outcomes become consequential, look for them to call on the untouchable Flower Mound mojo we've seen in recent years.
Photo Credit: Gabe Nieland/MileSplit TX
7. Adelynn Rodriguez (El Paso Eastwood)
Rodriguez started the year off with two early season fast runs. One was a 17:15 5,000m run way back in mid August.
Since then, her times really haven't been impressive. However, keep in mind the courses and terrain in El Paso aren't necessarily equal to the rest of the state.
The Oklahoma State commit runs well when she comes eastward. There will be few girls in 6A who will be able to bear her in October and November.
Quietly, Klander is having a fantastic season. The Mayde Creek sophomore has three sub 18-minute runs over 5,000m.
This past weekend at McNeil, Klander not only ran 17:58, but she beat several top Texas girls head-to-head.
I look forward to Klander possibly taking the Region 3-6A title based on how she has performed so far this season. It is also likely she can also race her way onto the podium at the state meet.
Photo Credit: Jessie McCabe/MileSplit TX
9. Emily Orr (El Paso Franklin)
Orr is in the same boat as Rodriguez in terms of racing in El Paso. When she has come east to race, she showed what she was capable of.
A 17:46 and meet win at the Southlake #1 XC Invite over several DFW area runners was a sign to her capabilities and the level she is on this season.
Former Franklin coach Laspada's decision to leave the program just prior to the season starting is a challenge Orr and Franklin have had to deal with, but Orr and the team looks to be rising to the challenge.
Orr should push for the podium at state. I foresee more races in the likes of Southlake than her McNeil race this weekend.
Photo Credit: Gabe Nieland/MileSplit TX
10. Alexandra Fox (Flower Mound)
Yes, Fox still has eligibility at Flower Mound. The same with her as it is with Leachman and Wingard, Coach Cook is being selective with her running.
Her first race was in late August at the Marcus Coach T XC Invitational where she dropped a 18:03. Almost a month later, her second race of the year wasn't until this weekend at Woodbridge in California. There Fox ran a team leading 16:23 for three-miles to help push Flower Mound to the team win.
I do expect Fox to challenge Wingard at the end of the season for the UIL 6A individual title if she can maintain health as she continues to improve her fitness.