Best of the Best
The top 25 female high school cross country athletes of the year

By Steve Underwood
Published - December 18, 2012

On her way to a second straight Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) title, Sarah Baxter, a Simi Valley, Calif., junior, shattered course records and went undefeated. For her accomplishments, Baxter tops the Running Times list of the best individual performers during the 2012 high school cross country season.

These year-end top 25 national rankings take into account results at both the Dec. 8 Foot Locker Finals and the Dec. 1 NXN meet. Naturally, the results of both nationals figure very highly into the rankings, but they are not the only factor. Finishes in major invitationals, state meets, and regional qualifiers to nationals are also taken into consideration. In determining the order, major titles, win-loss records, head-to-head finishes, and overall consistency all play a part.