Here are five girls cross country runners who are having breakout performances this season:

Lauren Casey, Ward Melville, Fr.

While technically not new to running at the high school level, her only race as an eighth grader came at Nike Cross Nationals, where she finished Bowdoin Park’s 5-kilometer course in 21 minutes, 24.4 seconds. In her first full year with the varsity team, she has deepened an already elite Ward Melville squad and has clocked a 20:34.6 at Sunken Meadow, which ranks 17th on Long Island.

Allison Creighton, Miller Place, Jr.

After consistently running 5Ks in the high-21-minute to low-23-minute range, she enrolled in a summer program at The Running School in upstate Swan Lake to help her take the next step. That decision paid off, as her 20:38.6 at Sunken Meadow is 20th

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