5 high school girls cross country runners to watch this season

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Savannah Amann, junior, St. Joseph's 

Last year's Forest Park Festival Gold Division champion helped the Angels to their first team state championship in program history. Amann finished fifth individually in the Class 4 state meet with a time of 18:47.60 and posted a school-best time of 18:39.10 at the district meet, helping the Angels to a district team crown.

Ellie Bush, junior, O'Fallon

Helped the Panthers cross the river and pick up a runner-up team finish in the Forest Park Festival Green Division, the toughest division of the meet. Bush finished as runner-up to Cor Jesu's Mary McKenzie on the 5K course with a time of 19:22.20. Registered individual championships at the Granite City Invitational and the Southwestern Conference meet.

Brianna Krueger, sophomore, St. Charles West

In her debut season, finished third individually in the Class 3 state meet with a personal-best time of 18:35.5 to help West win a second consecutive team championship. Krueger tallied  an individual championship at the GAC North meet as well as a third-place finish in the Forest Park Festival Green Division race.

Mary McKenzie, junior, Cor Jesu

The Forest Park Festival Green Division individual champion was a force on the course every time she raced. She was the GISL conference and district champion before a third-place finish at the Class 5 state meet. Her personal-best time of 17:40.90 is the fastest time on a 5-kilometer course of returning area athletes.

Elena Rybak, senior, Father McGivney

Blistering time of 16:47.5 on a three-mile course last season is the fastest of returning area athletes. Won regional and sectional championships before placing sixth at the Class 1A state meet at Detweiller Park. Won individual titles at the conference and county meets along with Freeburg Invitational. In May, helped Griffins win first track and field team state championship.