By Brandon Miles

Future stars do not have to wait until the future to battle as saw last weekend at the adidas XC Challenge in Cary, North Carolina between Libby Davidson of E.C. Glass (VA) and Sara Platek of Ragsdale (NC). Davidson was able to pull away in the final mile for a 17:16 PR 5K win by the 4-time Virginia state champ.

Each month, MileSplit will be selecting 21 sophomore girls as part of the Future Stars of XC Team presented by Hoka One One building into the end of season team to be finalized in early December. Check out the top sophomore girls XC performers nationally from the first month of cross country below split into a first, second, and third team of Future Stars.

Future Stars of XC - Sophomore Girls 1st Team

Aubrey Argyle (Davis UT)

Libby Davidson (E.C. Glass VA)

Briana Gess (Haddonfield Memorial NJ)

Lauren Gregory (Fort Collins CO)

Alexa Haff (Hinsdale Central IL)

Ana Sophia Keller (St. Anthony IL)

Jessica Lawson (Corning NY)

Citrus Valley's Claire Graves was the top underclassmen at one of the best meets nationally so far this season in the Woodbridge Classic last Saturday in California. 8th at the California state meet and 24th at the Foot Locker West Regional as a freshmen, Graves posted the fastest 3 mile performance in the country among sophomores with her 16:31 fifth place finish at Woodbridge.

Future Stars of XC - Sophomore Girls 2nd Team

Maya Browning (Fairview CO)

Claire Graves (Citrus Valley CA)

Ashton Endsley (Abilene TX)

Julia Heymach (Houston Lamar TX)

Taylor Nicholson (Avon IN)

Sarah Platek (Ragsdale NC)

Erin Ripple (Holy Names Academy WA)

From Alaska, Allie Ostrander is one of the best that the state has ever seen. She will graduate this spring and that will leave a huge hole that looks to be filled by Briahna Gerlach. Last year's Alaska 1A-3A state champ, Gerlach has already won 4 invitationals this season with her other two races being runner-up finishes to the aforementioned national 5K leader Ostrander. 

Future Stars of XC - Sophomore Girls 3rd Team

Cate Ambrose (Riverside SC)

Briahna Gerlach (Glenallen AK)

Macy Heinz (Ipswitch SD)

Baylee Jones (Desert Vista AZ)

Alexa King (Marvin Ridge NC)

Tess Misgen (Shakopee MN)

Ally Palomino (Bishop Amat CA)