MHS girls cross country team aims for 2024 season to improve at districts – St. Louis Call Newspapers

The Mehlville girls cross country team enters the 2024 season with a simple goal: improve on last year’s 14th-place finish at the Missouri Class 5, District 1 championships.

“I just want the girls to have a good season and finish higher at districts this season,” Mehlville head coach Stephanie Guiliano said. “We need them to commit to working hard so we can be successful. I think we have a really good team and I’m excited about what we can do this year.”

Senior captain Allison Miller returns as the Panthers’ top threat on the cross country track after finishing 34th overall at the 2023 district championships. Guiliano believes Miller has the ability to qualify for this year’s state championships.

“Allison is having an incredible run in the preseason,” Guiliano said. “She’s a triathlete and has been working a lot harder. She’s been working on speed and hills, and we’re going to need her to be a strong leader this year.”

The Panthers coach also believes senior Kayla Barrett has the potential to reach the state championships this season.

“Kayla is doing much better and I think that s“He has the potential to maybe go to state this year,” Guiliano said. “He’s made a lot of progress in the last year.”

Other runners who will make an impact on this year’s roster include seniors Lindsey Roberts, Olivia Tran and Claire Kimberlin. Juniors Ajla Otajagic and Anezka Kramarova and sophomores Ava Reifschneider and Tiana Phan are also expected to round out Mehlville’s varsity roster this season.