2025 Cross Country Previews: Middle School Girls Individuals

The season is just around the corner, with IESA’s first official practices kicking off on August 4th. What better way to start our previews than with the middle school girls individual rankings? These rankings highlight the top 25 runners entering the season, based on all performances prior to July 1st—meaning Detweiller at Dark results are not factored in.

1. Molly Mocko (8th, Glen Ellyn [St. Petronille])

St. Petronille returns a star in triple state champion Molly Mocko. With one of the most impressive resumes we've ever seen at the middle school level, Mocko enters the season as the clear favorite. During track, she dominated the IESA 2A State Championships, winning titles in the 800m, 1600m, and—just for fun—the high jump. She capped off her season with a jaw-dropping 2:14.54 in the 800m, placing 6th at New Balance Nationals. Her mile time was equally remarkable: 4:58.38 at the RunningLane Championships, where she finished 4th. She also earned All-American honors in the 1600m at NBN with another sub-5:00 performance and a 6th-place finish.

Mocko is poised to go after her third consecutive cross country title, having never lost an IESA postseason race. She won last year’s title in a solo effort, clocking 11:35—the fastest time run by a seventh grader on the day. With track times like hers, she’s in position to challenge the legendary 1A state record of 11:12 if in the classification, set by Anna Sophia Keller. That’s why Mocko earns the #1 spot in our rankings as she sets the stage for what could be one of the greatest cross country seasons ever.

2. Madeline Serur (8th, Arlington Heights [Thomas])

After a breakout track season, Madeline Serur lands firmly at #2 in our rankings. Serur possesses some of the best raw speed of any distance runner in Illinois, and it was on full display in the 800m. She clocked a blistering PR of 2:17.06—good for the #2 time in the entire state this year. Her mile wasn’t far behind in quality, with a strong 5:08.38 in the full mile. Serur was dominant in the postseason, winning the 4A state titles in both the 800 and 1600 with comfortable margins.

What makes her rise even more impressive is the improvement she’s shown over the past year. Last season, she ran 2:34 in the 800m and 6:12 in the 1600m. The time she’s dropped since then is nothing short of remarkable, and it’s clear she’s poised for a major step forward in cross country. Her 2-mile best of 12:11 from last year’s state meet earned her 14th place—not eye-popping, but very solid. Considering her massive leaps on the track, it’s safe to expect a big drop in her 2-mile time this fall. All she does is improve, and she’s absolutely earned her spot at #2.

3. Hazel Atkins (8th, Shelbyville [Moulton])

Your returning 2A state champion enters the season ranked #3 after an incredible track campaign. Hazel Atkins had a breakout year on the oval, capturing three 3A state titles and setting three new personal bests. She swept the 400m, 800m, and 1600m at the state meet, earning some of the top returning times in Illinois. Her 800m PR of 2:22.84 and 1600m best of 5:17.62 trail only Molly Mocko and Madeline Serur among returners.

Atkins was largely unchallenged in the distance events at state, and she’ll likely carry that dominance into cross country. She ran a commanding 11:46 to win the 2A state title last fall, edging out Audrey Dickinson by four seconds. Her 11:45 from the Rochester Invite ranks as the fourth-fastest returning 2-mile time statewide.

This fall, Atkins will be hunting for a second straight state title—a feat well within her reach. If she pulls it off, she’ll cement her status as one of the top runners in the class of 2030. There’s a lot to be excited about with Hazel Atkins this season.

4. Haylie Simpson (8th, Roscoe)

A strong finish to her track season has propelled Haylie Simpson into the top five. She qualified for the 4A state meet in both the 800m and 1600m, and she delivered a standout performance in the latter—running a six-second PR of 5:18 to take second place in the seventh-grade division. Her 800m was solid as well, clocking 2:30 for an 11th-place finish.

Last fall, Simpson placed 5th at the 3A cross country state championships with a time of 12:08, making her the top-finishing seventh grader in that race. This year, she’ll be aiming for a 3A state title. She’ll face stiff competition from other talented runners on this list, but she’s got the track credentials to get the job done. All that’s left is to see how fast she can go—because Simpson is poised to achieve great things this season.

5. Chloe Milton (8th, Chicago [St. Benedict])

One of the top returning cross country runners by PR, Chloe Milton enters the season at #5. Milton was a force last year, breaking 12 minutes twice and posting a scary-fast PR of 11:37. She clocked 11:52 at the state meet to finish fourth in 2A, with the only returning runner ahead of her being Hazel Atkins. This fall, Milton will likely be Atkins' biggest challenger—and she absolutely has the tools to take her down on the grass.

While her cross country season was impressive, Milton truly shined on the national stage during the USATF National series. She ran two 3000-meter races under 11:00, both converting to faster than 11:37 for 2 miles. She won the Region 7 qualifier in 10:48 (an 11:32 conversion) and then placed 20th at USATF Nationals, earning All-American honors.

Her track résumé stacks up well against the rest of this list too. She ran a 10-second PR of 5:20 at Magis Miles and took 4th at the state meet, though she wasn’t quite at her best that day. Her 800m time of 2:28 earned her 6th at the 2A state meet. While she may not have Atkins' track times, Milton’s cross country strength keeps her firmly in the 2A state title conversation. Expect big things from Chloe Milton this year.

6. Adelynn Moore (8th, Rolling Meadows [Plum Grove])

The first entry on this list who has never competed in an IESA XC event, Adelynn Moore’s strength on the track is sure to translate to the grass. A member of the Palatine Pack, Moore dominated in both the 1600m and 800m this season. She ran a PR of 5:20 in the 1600 and an even more impressive 2:22 in the 800—making her one of the top returning runners on this list despite not competing at the state meet last year.

That said, she’s far from unproven in cross country. Moore showed her ability in the 4000 meters during the USATF National series, where she ran a blistering 15:04 at Nationals to finish 70th—beating Madeline Serur, who already appeared earlier in this list. Clearly comfortable on the grass, Moore is poised to make a major statement in her IESA debut season.

7. Myla McAllister (8th, Aviston Elementary)

Myla McAllister has been dominating the SIJHSAA for over a year, and she’ll look to return as the state champion this fall. She claimed the SIJHSAA Class S state title last season with a blistering PR of 10:43 for 3000 meters—a time that converts to an eye-popping 11:30 for 2 miles, making her a contender in any IESA classification.

She didn’t disappoint during track season either, with times that back up her cross country success. McAllister ran 5:20 in the 1600 and 2:28 in the 800, earning double state titles in both events. She enters this fall as the overwhelming favorite to defend her Class S title and will look to capture her second straight championship.

8. Gianna Suvada (8th, Arlington Heights [St. James])

With one of the top returning cross country PRs in the state, Gianna Suvada enters at #8. She was the 1A state runner-up last season, clocking an incredible 11:46. That time would have won—or at least contended strongly—in nearly any other classification, but she had the tough task of chasing Molly Mocko. Suvada further showcased her strength in the 4000 meters with a scorching 14:33 at the USATF National meet, where she placed 29th and played a key role in Palatine Pack’s dominant team victory, scoring 63 points and winning by over 120.

Her track season was equally productive, marked by significant PRs. She ran 5:22 in the 1600, earning second place at the 2A state meet, and posted a 2:27 PR in the 800, which secured her third place in 2A. While she might not claim the 1A state title this fall, Suvada is poised to post an impressive 2-mile time.

9. Nellie Patton (7th, Evanston [Nichols])

One of the biggest improvers from this year’s track season, Nellie Patton earns the #9 spot. She posted massive PRs across all her events, establishing herself as the top 7th grader on this list. At Nike Nationals, she ran a strong 5:22 in the 1600 and placed 6th in the 4A 1600 with a solid 5:25. Her 800-meter time of 2:28 also earned her 6th place in 4A. Considering this was her first track season and she began running in the high 5:30s, her rapid improvement makes her one of the biggest success stories on this list.

Nellie will be ready for a breakout cross country season this fall—but she’ll need it to maintain her ranking. Her current 2-mile PR of 12:42 earned her 49th place at last year’s 4A state meet, which simply won’t be enough this season. The good news is she’s trending in the right direction. With all her track success fueling her momentum, expect her to shatter her 2-mile PR this fall.

10. Stella Ciccarelli (7th, Mokena) 

Every race, Stella Ciccarelli continues to improve. She began the 2025 track season as a 6th grader with a 1600m PR of 5:32 and ended it 10 seconds faster with a 5:22. Stella won both the DPVC Conference and the sectional championship in her best event, the 1600m, often competing against older 6th and 7th graders. But her 1600m isn’t the only impressive event—her 800m PR of 2:35 earned her 2nd place in conference. She also qualified for state in the 1600m, earning a 4th place medal.

In cross country last year, Stella showed great improvement in her 2-mile time, finishing 12th at the IESA 3A State Championship with a 12:21. This year, breaking into the top 10 should be well within her reach. Stella isn’t just destined for great things now—she has an amazing running future ahead of her.

11. Haven Barwegen (8th, Kankakee [Bishop McNamara])

Haven Barwegen, a member of the newly formed Plainfield Pack, made one of the biggest leaps in the state during her track season. As a 6th grader in 2023, she ran a 13:27 on the IESA state course. Just a year later, she dropped that time by more than two minutes, running 11:59 to place 6th at state—an incredible improvement in just one season.

Her progress carried over to the track, where she opened her 2025 season with a 5:44 in the 1600m and went on to run a PR of 5:26 at sectionals. She followed that up with a 5:34 to place 3rd at the state meet. In the 800m, she shaved 12 seconds off her time to run a personal best of 2:26, earning 2nd place at state. She also competed at Distance Night in Palatine, where she ran a lifetime best of 5:23 in the 1600m.

With remarkable improvement and a relentless work ethic, Haven enters this cross country season as a serious contender for a top-5 finish at state.

12. Audrey Floyd (8th, Edwardsville [Lincoln]) 

From local meets to state championships, Audrey Floyd’s journey has been defined by personal records, growth, and grit. Her two-mile PR improved significantly from 6th to 7th grade, highlighted by a mid-season PR of 12:15. Audrey’s best event is the 1600m, where she set a 5:23 PR at state this past spring.

This summer, she competed at the Hoka Festival of Miles, where she ran three events: the mile, 1600m, and 1500m. What stood out most was her 1500m PR of 5:07—a remarkable achievement given the challenge of competing in three races at a single meet. Audrey handled it all with ease and confidence.

This cross country season promises to be one to remember for Audrey!

13. Ava Driskill (8th, Pleasant Plains)

We only saw Ava Driskill race twice last year, but she made a strong impression in both appearances. She posted one of the top returning 2-mile times at the Bee Bee Invite with a jaw-dropping 11:44, then followed it up with another sub-12 performance at the Rochester Invite, clocking 11:55. After that, she disappeared from competition—she didn’t race at sectionals or participate during the track season. There’s been no performance data on Driskill in the past year beyond those two races.

Because of this limited recent information, she’s ranked a bit lower than we’d like for now. However, if she returns to form, she could easily break into the top 5 by season’s end. Driskill has something to prove this year, and only time will reveal just how good she can be.

14. Ava Zartler (8th, New Lenox [Martino])

Every race tells a story for 8th grader Ava Zartler—a story of perseverance and progress. She improved her 2-mile time by 20 seconds from 6th to 7th grade, currently holding a PR of 12:53. This cross country season, expect to see her finish in the top 35 at the IESA 4A state meet.

Ava also had a strong track season. At the DPVC meet, she placed 4th in the 1600 with a time of 5:43, then capped off the season with a 7th place finish at state, improving her PR to 5:25. In the 800, she shaved 7 seconds off her time, breaking 2:30 for the first time with a 2:29 that earned her 9th place.

With these impressive new PRs, Ava is poised for big things this cross country season.

15. Callie Ding (7th, Barrington [Station]) 

After a successful track season, Barrington Station’s Callie Ding is poised for a strong cross country campaign. Last year, she ran a 2-mile PR of 12:15, placing 17th at the IESA 4A State Championship. As a member of the Palatine Pack, she also ran an impressive 11:32 for 3000m.

During track season, Callie medaled in both the 800m (7th) and the 1600m (8th) at state, clocking personal bests of 2:36 in the 800m and 5:27 in the 1600m. With Palatine Pack’s reputation for developing elite runners, Callie could be a breakout performer this fall—and definitely a runner to keep an eye on.

16. Chloe Crim (7th, Shorewood [Troy])

Chloe Crim had a breakout track season that’s poised to launch her to new heights this fall. She posted strong regular season PRs of 2:25 in the 800m and 5:28 in the 1600m, medaling in both events at the IESA state meet—taking 3rd in the 800m and 9th in the 1600m. But her biggest leap came after the season ended, when she joined her AAU team and blew past her previous bests. At the AAU Region 13 Qualifier, she ran 2:22 in the 800m and a converted 5:18 in the 1600m (from a 4:57 1500m), winning both events decisively.

These new marks drastically elevate her status heading into cross country, where she already holds an impressive 2-mile PR of 12:02 from her 4th-place finish at the 4A state meet. As the second-fastest returner in the division, Chloe will face steep competition this fall—but with her trajectory, she’s more than ready to rise to the challenge and potentially contend for a state title.

17. Julia Farley (7th, Lemont [Old Quarry])

Julia Farley, representing the newly formed Plainfield Pack, made a big leap during her 2025 track season. She opened the spring with a 1600m time of 5:48 and steadily chipped away over the next three months, ultimately finishing with a 5:28 PR. Her growth on the track builds on a strong cross country resume—she placed 6th at last year’s 4A IESA State Championships and enters this fall as the third-fastest returner in the division. With the momentum from her track season and continued development, Julia is poised to drop serious time in the 2-mile and make another statement this fall.

18. Maddi Nagy (8th, Aurora [Herget])

After two strong seasons of steady improvement, Maddi Nagy is poised to make a strong cross country debut this fall. While she has yet to compete in a race longer than 1600 meters, her track performances suggest she’s more than capable of excelling on the grass. She clocked a 5:28 in the 1600 at the Aurora City of Lights Invitational—an impressive time that stacks up well against others on this list. Maddi also posted a solid 2:32 in the 800 at the Fox Valley Conference Invitational. Though she’s new to cross country, her times are anything but amateur. With some course experience and training, she could quickly emerge as one of the top contenders in 3A this season.

19. Leah Moore (7th, Staunton)

Leah Moore had an exceptional performance at the 3A state meet and looks poised to take another big step forward this cross country season. In just her first year of track, she dropped a massive 14-second PR in the 1600, running 5:29 to finish second—only behind Hazel Atkins, who’s already been mentioned on this list. She also posted a strong 800 time, running 2:34 (a 5-second PR) for a 17th-place finish. While her 2-mile time of 13:18 from last fall lags behind her recent track results, it’s clear she’s taken major strides since then. If her track improvements are any indication, Leah is more than ready to close that gap. She’s one of the most underrated athletes in the classification and is primed for a breakout season.

20. Zoey Ko (8th, Crystal Lake [Prairie]) 

Zoey Ko ended her track season on a high note, dropping significant time across all her events. For much of the spring, she hovered in the low 5:50s for the 1600—but when it counted most, she delivered, running a massive PR to take third at the 3A state meet. She did the exact same in the 800, shaving nearly 10 seconds off her time to earn another third-place finish. Ko cut nearly 20 seconds in the 1600 and close to 10 in the 800 in a single day—just imagine what she could do in the 2 mile with that same momentum. Her current cross country PR of 13:07 doesn’t reflect the runner she is now, but with the fire she showed during track, Ko is set for a major breakout this fall.

21. McKenna Beck (8th, Clinton)

One of the top returning 3A cross country runners from last fall, McKenna Beck had a strong track campaign that will only strengthen her résumé heading into the new season. She placed fourth in the 3A 1600 with a new PR of 5:31, adding another medal to her collection. She wrapped up the season with a 2:35 in the 800 at the Clinton Challenge—another personal best. However, her best event might still be the 2 mile, where she boasts a 12:00 PR and an 8th-place finish at last year's state meet. As the second-fastest returning runner from that race, McKenna enters the season as a serious contender in 3A. Keep an eye on her—she’s one to watch.

22. Abby Deneen (8th, Oak Park [Brooks])

Even though she missed the entire track season, Abby Deneen still earns a spot on our list. She was a force during the fall, placing sixth at her sectional meet and then shocking everyone with a third-place finish at the 4A state meet, running a PR of 12:01. She’s the top returner from that race—just ahead of Chloe Crim, who we mentioned earlier. Despite not racing at all during track, her 6th grade 1600 time of 5:34 is still strong enough to keep her in the mix this fall. She placed fourth when she ran that time, and if she’s maintained that strength, Abby will be a serious contender for the 4A state title on the grass.

23. Sam Deane (7th, Batavia [Rotolo])

Without any track times, it’s hard to know exactly what kind of shape Sam Deane is in. However, based on the strength of her cross country season last fall, she absolutely deserves a spot on this list. She ran a strong PR of 12:03 at her sectional meet to take second place, then followed it up with a 12:11 at the state meet, earning 11th place in 4A. That performance makes her one of the top returning runners in the division. As just a seventh grader, she’ll be aiming for a top-3 finish this fall.

24. Caitlyn Daniel (7th, St. Charles [Thompson])

Once again, we have another girl who didn’t run track but could be a star on the cross country course. Caitlyn Daniel ran a solid 12:05 at last season’s state meet, taking 5th place in 4A. She showed consistency throughout the season with three races under 12:10. With such a strong group of 4A runners clustered in the low 12-minute range, it’s tough to know exactly where she ranks without updated track times. However, if she can even match last year’s PR, she’ll be in a great position this season.

25. Gianna Domenighini (8th, Metamora)

Gianna Domenighini has work to do if she wants to maintain her spot in the top 25, but it’s definitely within reach. She posted a solid 2-mile PR of 12:11 last season, finishing 22nd at the 3A state meet. Her track times were respectable too, with a 5:42 in the 1600 and a 2:34 in the 800. While her resume isn’t quite as strong as some others on this list, she carries serious momentum. Just last season, breaking 6 minutes in the mile was a milestone — now she’s far beyond that. If she can sustain this upward trend through the fall, Domenighini could be a dark horse contender in 3A.