Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: St. Edmond girls cross country returning letterwinners are, front row (left to right): Naomi Valles, Lily Eslick. Back: Anna Lursen, Alex Leiting and Abby Tofilon.

Three of the Top-4 varsity runners from a year ago are back for Mike Szalat and the St. Edmond girls cross country team.

The 14-deep roster includes senior Anna Lursen, juniors Lily Eslick, McKenna Kvale, Alex Leiting and Abby Tofilon, along with sophomores Betsy Gruver, Ashlyn Swisher, Greenlee Crimmins, Jennifer Touney and Naomi Valles.

Freshmen Adelyn Bangert, Mary Gruver, Mae Pokorny and Grace Schlegel round things out.

“It’s looking like our strength will be in our ability to run as a pack,” Szalat said. “We probably won’t have that lead runner like we have had in the past, but our pack will be much tighter than it has been in a long, long time.

“And maybe someone will emerge from the group and become a strong No. 1 as the season progresses. We have some girls who have that ability.”

Valles and Eslick were the third and fourth runners for much of last year. Leiting, Gruver, Tofilon, Touney and Kvale all posted varsity times.

Lursen, a multi-sport standout who had a strong track and field season in the spring, missed time last year with an injury. She is also balancing playing volleyball this fall.

“Anna is just a different type of competitor,” Szalat said. “It’s great having her back on the roster because of the kind of kid she is. You know you’re always going to get her best each time out because her competitiveness is unmatched.”

Eslick, who set the program summer running record for miles between her freshman and sophomore campaigns, broke her own mark this past summer.

“Lily ran over 400 miles,” Szalat said. “She just really had an awesome offseason and I’m excited to see what she can do.

“Alex looks her best at this point in preseason, Betsy has really improved from this time last year, and Naomi is also ahead of where she was (in 2024). Those girls that ran varsity last season and are returning all look further along at this point.”

Crimmins and Swisher are both out for the first time at the high school level after running in middle school. Schlegel was a lead runner last year in middle school.

“Every girl on the roster has some type of previous cross country experience,” Szalat said. “Grace is going to improve as the season goes along because she’ll get into it more after playing softball. Greenlee also played softball in the summer but is back out, and Ashlyn is a really good athlete that we are happy to have on the team.”

The schedule this fall includes meets hosted by Southeast Valley, Webster City, Ridge View, Humboldt, Algona and the Fort Dodge Invitational. The NCC championships are slated for Oct. 14 in Algona while the 1A state qualifier will take place Oct. 23.

The 1A portion of the state cross country championships are set for Nov. 1 at Lakeside Golf Course and Kennedy Park.

Szalat will be assisted by CJ Tracy.

The Gaels open at Southeast Valley on Thursday.

2025 ST. EDMOND GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Roster

Senior — Anna Lursen.

Juniors — Lily Eslick, McKenna Kvale, Alex Leiting, Abby Tofilon.

Sophomores — Betsy Gruver, Ashlyn Swisher, Jennifer Touney, Naomi Valles, Greenlee Crimmins.

Freshmen — Adelyn Bangert, Mary Gruver, Mae Pokorny, Grace Schlegel.

Schedule

Aug. 28 — at Southeast Valley.

Sept. 2 — at Webster City; 13 — at Ridge View (CYO); 22 — at Humboldt; 29 — at Algona.

Oct. 9 — at Fort Dodge; 14 — at North Central Conference championships in Algona; 23 — at state-qualifying meet.