Missouri runners to watch: Class 5 girls

With the first meets of the season just a couple of sunsets away, runners are ready to ready to take on the 2026 season.

There are a handful of Kansas City area runners who will be names to watch this fall. There will always be surprises along the way, but here are a few names to keep an eye out for during the next two months.

1. Caroline Bowen of St. Teresa's Academy has quickly established herself as one of Missouri's top distance runners and enters the upcoming cross country season as a leading contender for the Class 5 state championship.

After placing 26th at the state meet as a freshman in 2024, Bowen made a significant leap as a sophomore, finishing third at the 2025 state meet. With the top two finishers from that race graduated, she returns as the highest-placing runner from last year's field.

Bowen also proved her versatility during the 2026 track and field season, earning a fourth-place finish in the 3,200-meter run at the MSHSAA state meet.

With two outstanding seasons already on her résumé, Bowen will be one of the athletes to watch this fall as she looks to build on her impressive career.

2. Liberty's Tessa Purdue emerged as one of Missouri's brightest young distance runners during her freshman season, making an immediate impact on the state's biggest stage. 

Purdue placed seventh at the 2025 Missouri State Cross Country Championships, making her the second-highest returning finisher heading into the upcoming season. With a year of state meet experience already under her belt, she enters her sophomore campaign as one of the top contenders in Class 5.

Purdue carried that momentum into the 2026 track and field season, showcasing her range by placing third in both the 800-meter and 1,600-meter races at the state meet. 

As she continues to develop, Purdue has positioned herself as a runner capable of competing for state titles in both cross country and track.

3. St. Teresa's Academy's Ella Messner has been a consistent presence among Missouri's top distance runners since the beginning of her high school career.

As a freshman in 2024, Messner turned heads with a sixth-place finish at the Missouri State Cross Country Championships. She followed that performance with a 12th-place finish as a sophomore in 2025, making her the fourth-highest returning finisher in this year's field and keeping her firmly in the conversation among the state's elite runners.

Messner also enjoyed a strong 2026 track and field season, earning an eighth-place finish in the 1,600-meter run at the MSHSAA state championships. 

With two state cross country medals already on her resume and another season of experience, Messner will be one of the runners to watch as she aims for another top finish this fall.

4. Blue Springs South's Bailey Baier put together a breakthrough cross country season in 2025, establishing herself as one of the top returning distance runners in Missouri. 

After finishing 82nd at the state meet as a sophomore, Baier made tremendous strides as a junior, placing 16th at the 2025 Missouri State Cross Country Championships. That performance makes her the fifth-highest returning finisher heading into the upcoming season and positions her as a runner to watch in Class 5.

Baier continued her success during the 2026 track and field season, earning a fifth-place finish in the 3,200-meter run at the state meet. 

Entering her senior season, Baier has the experience and momentum to challenge for another strong finish at the state cross country meet and cap off an impressive high school career.

5. Liberty North's Jaelynn Conner made a tremendous leap during the 2025 cross country season, establishing herself among Missouri's top distance runners. 

After finishing 115th at the Missouri State Cross Country Championships as a sophomore in 2024, Conner made one of the state's biggest improvements by placing 21st as a junior in 2025. That breakthrough performance puts her in position to contend for an even higher finish entering her senior season.

With valuable state meet experience and the confidence that comes from a breakout junior campaign, she will be one of the runners to watch as she looks to close out her high school cross country career with another strong postseason performance.

6. Blue Springs South's Emma Price enjoyed an impressive sophomore season, earning a spot among Missouri's top distance runners with a 26th-place finish at the 2025 Missouri State Cross Country Championships.

Competing against many of the state's best, Price demonstrated the ability to perform on the biggest stage while establishing herself as one of the area's top returning runners.

With two more seasons of high school competition ahead of her, Price has plenty of opportunity to continue climbing the state rankings. 

7. Julie Erickson of Blue Springs High School wasted little time making her mark at the state level, finishing 27th at the 2025 Missouri State Cross Country Championships in her first appearance. 

Competing against a talented field, Erickson showed poise and potential beyond her years, earning one of the top finishes among underclassmen in the state.

With three seasons still ahead of her, Erickson is poised to become one of Missouri's rising stars in distance running. Her successful freshman campaign gives her a strong starting point, and as she continues to gain experience and develop, she has the talent to become a regular contender at the state meet.

8. Liberty's Lily Hurt enters the upcoming cross country season as one of the most accomplished distance runners in Missouri. Although she finished 59th at the 2025 Missouri State Cross Country Championships, Hurt's season was highlighted by winning the conference championship and capturing the district title.

Just a year earlier, she placed 19th at the 2024 state meet as a sophomore, proving she has the ability to compete among the state's best when the postseason arrives.

Hurt enjoyed an outstanding 2026 track and field season, cementing herself as one of Missouri's premier distance runners. She captured the Class 5 state championship in the 3,200 meters, finished as the state runner-up in the 1,600 meters and added a sixth-place finish in the 800 meters. 

Her combination of endurance, speed and championship experience makes her one of the favorites to contend for a top finish this fall as she closes out an impressive high school career.

9. Liberty North's Lucy Wright has already built one of the most impressive résumés of any underclass distance runner in Missouri. As a freshman in 2024, Wright announced herself as a future star by finishing second at the Missouri State Cross Country Championships. She followed that performance with a 35th-place finish as a sophomore in 2025, giving her valuable experience against another highly competitive state field while continuing to establish herself as one of the state's top runners.

Wright rebounded in a big way during the 2026 track and field season, earning a state runner-up finish in the 3,200-meter run. Her ability to compete at the highest level in both cross country and track makes her one of the top returning distance runners in Class 5. With another year of development and championship experience, Wright will be a strong contender to return to the front of the state cross country field.

10. Blue Springs South's Jayda Bailey showed significant improvement during the 2025 cross country season, taking another step forward as one of the Jaguars' top runners. 

After placing 84th at the Missouri State Cross Country Championships as a sophomore in 2024, Bailey improved to a 36th-place finish as a junior in 2025. That jump reflects her continued growth and ability to compete against many of Missouri's top distance runners.

Entering her senior season, Bailey brings both experience and momentum after last year's breakthrough performance. As one of Blue Springs South's veteran leaders, she will look to continue her upward trajectory while helping lead the Jaguars in conference, district and state competition.