This season, we were able to watch one of the strongest classes of distance runners on the female side in quite some time.
It wasn't easy putting this list together since each individual girl is very talented at each distance event.
We now present the top 20 female distance runners of the 2019 track and field season.
1. Allie Janke - North Central: It's hard to argue that the North Central sophomore, who has broken two 3A state meet records, can't be the No. 1 runner of the year. Janke has run personal best time of 4:43.6 in the 1,600 meter and 10:10.83 in the 3,200 meter. She also ran a personal best time in the 800 meter running 2:21.33. Janke finished the season nationally ranked 6th in the 1,600 and 8th in the 3,200.
2. Taylor Roe - Lake Stevens: A great high school career comes to an end for Taylor Roe as she now moves on to run for the Cowboys of Oklahoma State. She was the 4A state champion in the 800 running a season best time of 2:11.9, and also the 3,200 running a personal best time of 10:18.22. She finished in fourth in the 1,600, but had run a season best time earlier on in the season at 4:51.04. Roe has won 7 state championships in track and has collected a total of 9 medals.
3. Julia David Smith - Issaquah: Another great sophomore coming back next season, David Smith got her first state championship this year winning the 4A 1,600 in a personal best time of 4:50.35. Only had one loss in the 1,600 all season, which was at the Shoreline Invite where she finished 3rd. She also ran a personal best time of 10:21.15 in the 3,200 and was the runner-up behind Roe. At the Nike Eason Invite, she took 3rd in the Elite 800 race running a personal best time of 2:13.01.
4. Ella Nelson, Walla Walla: Nelson made big steps from her freshman year as she was able to place high at state. She was the runner-up in the 4A 1,600 with a personal best time of 4:52.52 and placed third in the 3,200 running 10:45.98. Probably the biggest highlight of her season was finishing second in the 3,200 in her heat down at the Arcadia Invite in California where she ran 10:42.97. Was a member of the sixth place state 1,600 meter relay team too.
5. Anya Hirschfeld - Ingraham: A tough runner all around, Hirschfeld concludes her senior year on a positive note. She placed second in the 3A 800 behind three-time champion, Eastside Catholic's Kate Jendrezak, and was third in the 1,600. Her personal best times are 2:11.84 and 4:57.42. Earlier on in the season, Hirschfeld ran the 3,200 at the Birger Solberg and broke the 11 minute barrier for the first time in her career running 10:58.78 and won.
6. Annika Reiss - Bellingham: Another Bellingham great comes and goes. Reiss caps off her career with two 2A state titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 races. She ran a season best 4:57.56 in the 1,600 and a personal best 10:47.77 in the 3,200. During the season, Reiss had been ranked No. 1 in all three distance events at the 2A level. Her 800 time was 2:16.3 and a personal best. The Northern Arizona University bound runner finishes her high school career with 3 state championships and 6 medals in track.
7. Brooke Wallace - Glacier Peak: The first of two Grizzlies to make our top 10 list. Wallace ends her high school career with a third and fifth place finish in 4A 800 and 1,600 races. She ran personal best times of 2:14.44 and 4:56.39. She also ran a personal best time of 10:58.34 in the 3,200 taking first overall at the Nike Eason Invite.
8. Alicia Anderson - Kamiak: Unfortunately the steeplechase isn't a certified event in Washington at the state meet, but if it were, Anderson would be a state champion multiple times. As she heads off to Gonzaga to run for the Zags next fall, Anderson finishes high school with seventh and sixth place medals at the 4A state meet in the 1,600 and 3,200. She ran a personal best time of 4:58.27 in the 1,600 and a season best time of 10:50.14 in the 3,200. She was also a three-time 2k steeplechase champion at the Birger Solberg Invite.
9. Naomi Smith - King's: If you had been to a meet this season where Smith had run at, you would have noticed the King's junior doesn't stop running at ALL. Smith won the 1A state 1,600 and 3,200 races for the first time in her career and completed the Distance Triple Crown since she won the state cross title too. Ran personal best time of 4:53.76 and 10:25.5. With another season of high school running, she is already the best runner King's has ever had.
10. Aviry Stratton - Glacier Peak: This only her second season of running track after not coming out her freshman year. Placed sixth and fifth in the 4A state 1,600 and 3,200 races. Ran personal best time of 4:56.15 and 10:38.39. Also ran a personal best 2:17.8 in the 800 as well.
11. Ella Borsheim - Bellarmine Prep
12. Sarah Mirkin - Holy Names Academy
13. Meri Dunford - Prairie
14. Erinn Hill - North Central
15. Olivia Markezich - Bear Creek
16. Lauren Larson - Port Angeles
17. MaryAlice Mitchell - Washington
18. Saville Feist - Anacortes
19. Madeline Drennen - Orting
20. Leah Holmgren - Ellensburg