Frontier Academy
Frontier Academy returns their entire top five from last year's state squad, which finished fifth. Only one other team in last year's top 5 can say that (D'Evelyn).
Julia Brown was their top finisher at last year's Big Dance, though Audrynn Street returns as their fastest returner with an 18:45 best. Brown is just a few ticks back with a 19:05 season best.
And perhaps the key to their potential success this season are their No. 3 and No. 4 returning runners, Lexi Angus and Charlotte Granrud. Angus holds a 19:07 PR, while Granrud is 15 seconds back in 19:22. On paper Granrud is the No. 1 fourth runner in 3A. Samantha Angus rounds out their top five with a 21:23 season best.
Aspen
A year ago the girls from Aspen Colorado finished seventh at State. In terms of speed Aspen is No. 9, though what makes them a Dark Horse is the fact that they return everyone from that 2018 state squad.
They are the only team in the Top 9 from last year that can claim that.
Their 2018 squad was comprised of five sophomore, one freshman, and one junior - and their top five were four sophomore and the lone freshman.
So, they've got a very young squad.
Kylie Kenny is their lone sub 20 5ker with a 19:55 best which came at State, though it's of note that this Aspen squad rarely came out of the mountains last year. In other words: most of their races were competed at higher altitudes - this explains coming in No. 9 on the speed chart, as most of their squad ran season bests at State: lower altitudes.
Kendall Clark is their No. 2 returner, and lone runner in the 20s with a 20:30 season best.Macy Hopkinson, Edie Sherlock, and Bronwyn Chesner round out their top five returners. All of which had run 22:01 or faster.