Girls cross country: Runners to watch

Erin Causey

Hereford, sophomore

Causey came on late last year as a freshman and caught some by surprise. She won the Class 3A state title — helping the Bulls take the team title — and had a successful track season as well.

Ellie Gonzalez

Catholic, sophomore

Gonzalez didn't look like a freshman last year, winning the IAAM BConference championship with ease and finishing second overall (including the A Conference runners). She did more of the same in outdoor track, winning the 1,600 and 3,200 at the spring championship meet.

Isabel Griffith

Dulaney, sophomore

She ran well last year as a freshman in cross country and track. In outdoor track, Griffith took sixth in the state in the tough Class 4A 3,200 meters, and she should give the Lions a boost this fall.

Michelle Nelson

Severna Park, senior

Nelson turned in several strong performances last fall, finishing third in the Class 4A East and 12th in the state race. She won the Severna Park-River Hill scrimmage in late August.

Hannah Oneda

Winters Mill, senior

Oneda won several big races last fall, including the Bull Run and South Carroll Invitational. She nearly won the state but faded at the end and finished second. Oneda followed that with solid seasons in track.

Emily Ruppel

Loch Raven, senior

Ruppel came up huge in the big races last year. She finished second in the Baltimore County title race and later won the Class 1A state title by 22 seconds. In the spring, she finished second in the state in the 3,200 meters.

Casey Sullivan

Liberty, senior

She came a long way during outdoor track, improving a whopping 35 seconds in the 3,200. She also ran on the 3,200 relay team that won the state title as Liberty won the Class 2A team crown.

Emily VandeWater (cq)

Hereford, senior

VandeWater has been consistent throughout her first three seasons, but this could be her big year. She was third at the Baltimore County meet last year and took 11th in the Class 3A state meet as the Bulls won the title in both races.

Rachel Yep

Mount Hebron, junior

Yep came on strong in the back end of last fall, finishing second in the Class 2A East Region and then fourth in the state. She also remained consistent throughout the track seasons and will be among the state's top distance runners.

LeAnne Young

River Hill, senior

Young had a solid season last fall and should help anchor the Hawks again. She won the Howard County title and took third in the Class 3A East Region before finishing 11th in the state meet.

OTHER NOTABLES

Hollie Adejumo, Howard

Miranda Beale, McDonogh

Erin Behrens, Spalding

Samantha Bingaman, S. Carroll

Sarah Brand, Oakland Mills

Sara Carter, Hereford

Jodie Clouser, Severna Park

Maddie Clouser, Severna Park

Holly Cook, John Carroll

Lahni Clifton, Western

Nicole Dawson, Hammond

Amanda English, Bel Air

Tina Graf, South Carroll

Lauren Kennedy, Hereford

Tiffany Lang, Oakland Mills

Summer Legambi, NDP

Caragh MacDermott, Glenelg

Cara McNellis, Spalding

Yanif Makoosa, Friendship

Katelyn Rilee, Chesapeake-AA

Nicole Rutherford, Winters Mill

Ellie Smith, Broadneck

Brianna Stewart, St. Mary's

Katie Todd, Century

Chelsea Vane, Mount Hebron