(Mia Olsen led the Xavier squad with an 11th place finish at last year's State Meet.-photo by John Hays)
Xavier College Preparatory
Though Xavier have graduated Sarah Carter and MJ O'Gara, Mia Olsen (So.) and Caroline McClelland (Sr.) are ready to step up and lead the charge for the gators. Last season as a freshman, Mia finished 11th in the D1 Girls race at the Arizona cross-country State Meet, while Caroline placed 15th for the gators. Helen Innes is also returning is their top miler from this past spring. Former Altedeña Panther Samantha Braun also comes in as a likely impact freshman. Last year, Samantha won the middle school girls' 1.5-mile race at the Desert Twilight Festival. The Gators as always have a ton of up-and-coming talent eager to toe the line and contend for a podium finish all the way through the first weekend of November.
Coach Van Sickle Says…
Who are your top returners?
(10) Mia Olsen, (12) Caroline McClelland (11) Helen Innes, (12) Caroline Liddy, (12) Kate Starneva, (11) Karina Smith, (11) Karina Hawkins
Do you have any impact freshman or incoming transfers?
(9) Samantha Braun, (9) Camille Merickel (9) Jamie Stelnik
What meets are you keying in on this year?
Desert Twilight, George Fox XC Classic (Gervais, OR.), State Champs
Have you set any goals as a team?
Our goals are to remain healthy, train consistently and get faster each meet.