There are several top girl cross country runners in the Toledo area returning to their respective teams this fall.
Perrysburg has a pair of girls back from its team that won state in 2023.
Also, Eastwood has its top runner back after the Eagles took 16th as a team at state in Division II a season ago. Action should be competitive in the Northwest Ohio Athletic League as well, where many talented runners are back with state experience.
Here’s a look at 10 of the top Toledo-area girl runners, listed alphabetically by school. Times and finishes courtesy of Ohio MileSplit and Baumspage.
Kate Thormeier, senior, Bryan
Thormeier finished 10th at state in Division II last season. She also took first at district, where she ran a season-best 18:20, and took second at regionals.
Josilyn Welch, senior, Delta
The top runner for the Panthers had a standout junior season, one that culminated with her placing 11th at state in Division III. Welch was also first at the NWOAL meet, second at district, and sixth in the region, where she ran in a season-best time of 18:47.
Leah Emch, senior, Eastwood
Emch took 14th at the state meet for the Eagles. Emch was also first at the Northern Buckeye Conference meet, third at district, and fifth in the region. Shortly after state, Emch turned in a personal record by running 18:32 at the NXR Midwest regional meet in Indiana.
Colbie Strayer, sophomore, Liberty Center
Strayer, competing as a freshman, helped a Liberty Center that took sixth at state in Division III. She was the third-best finisher for the Tigers at state, placing 52nd. Prior to state, Strayer took eighth at the NWOAL meet, fifth at district, and 22nd in the region, where she ran a season-best 19:37.
Mia Amador, junior, Patrick Henry
The No. 1 runner for the Patriots will look to lead them back to state in 2024. Amador helped Patrick Henry to a 13th place finish in Division III a year ago. She finished 31st at state for the Patriots. Amador took seventh at the NWOAL meet, third at district, and 15th in the region while running a season-best 19:17.
Ava Beeks, senior, Perrysburg
Beeks figures to be defending D-I state champ Perrysburg’s top runner after finishing 10th at state in a season-best 18:22. As a junior, Beeks took fifth in the Northern Lakes League Buckeye Division race and was runner-up at district and in the region.
Natalie Sanders, senior, Perrysburg
Sanders finished 22nd at state last year in a season-best 18:39. Sanders was sixth in the NLL Buckeye race, third in the district, and finished fifth in the region.
Morgan Wiechman, junior, Port Clinton
Wiechman had a memorable sophomore season that concluded with her placing ninth at the D-II state meet. She had a run of first-place finishes leading up to state. Wiechman took first in the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division race, first at district, and first in the region, where she ran a season-best 18:30.
Ella Rhoades, junior, Wauseon
The top runner back for the Indians is coming off a 30th place finish at the D-II state meet in 2023. Rhoades was fourth at the NWOAL meet, fourth at district where she ran a season-best 18:58, and was sixth in the region.
Lily Good, junior, Whitmer
Good finished 47th at the D-I state meet; her personal-best during the 2023 season was 18:30. Good took third in the NLL Buckeye ahead of both Beeks and Sanders of Perrysburg, and placed fourth at district and in the region.
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