Picking the top cross-country teams in the state before the season begins is never easy. A lot can happen over the course of three months. Athletes can experience breakthrough seasons, newcomers can emerge as key contributors, and, of course, injuries to important runners can quickly change the outlook for a team.
But we’ll do our best to set the stage for what we expect will be another exciting season on the trails. For some of the state’s top teams, the outlook appears fairly straightforward if everything goes according to plan. For others, however, the picture is far less clear, and where they’ll ultimately finish by season’s end remains anyone’s guess.
Now we’ve reached the end of our top-10 rankings. In our opinion, it’s the best of the bunch. This is the girls’ team we believe has the best chance to take home the hardware at the State Meet in early November.
(Above photo by Sterling Vernon @rhodeandtrack)
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No. 1, Cumberland High
Last year’s results: First place (11-0), Northern Division; Fourth, RIIL Class A Championships; First, RIIL State Championships
Key returnees/runners: Cecelia “CC” Ludwig, Jr., 18:17.27; Gabriella Stoothoff, Jr., 18:57.31; Natalie Crawford, So., 19:07.47; Anna Bianchi, Sr., 19:13.85; Charlotte Pryer, So., 20:12.15; Rebecca Davis, so., 22:59.08; Caylee Kurbec, Fr.
Outlook: “You don’t knock the defending champions off the top spot until someone proves they can beat them.”
That’s often been our philosophy and we’re not changing it this time.
Can you say a dynasty in the making? For the fourth straight year, we’re predicting another title for the girls from Cumberland. It’s certainly not going to be a shoo-in for the Clippers, who will receive their strongest threat from consistent powerhouse and nine-time champion La Salle Academy.
But if they’re at their best and avoid the injury bug, the Clippers will make it a four-peat on Nov. 2.
Injuries will be the biggest thing the Clippers will need to avoid. Two weeks ago, head coach Kerrie Carpenter told us she had just seven runners on her girls’ squad. In other words, her entire team is also her varsity.
Don’t be fooled by the results of the Class A Championships. Just like the previous two years, Carpenter may not have her whole team on the starting line to keep them well-rested and healthy for states the following weekend. In 2025, the Clippers had two of their top runners out of the field and finished fourth at the class meet, 106 points behind La Salle. The following weekend, with their lineup restored, the results were reversed with Cumberland defeating the Rams, 26-54 for the crown.
The Clippers will be minus one runner from last year’s top-five scorers that placed in the top 12 at the State Meet with the graduation of Charli McCue, a third-place finisher.
But the core is coming back and they’ll also have a strong new addition this fall. Among returnees is Ludwig, the defending titlist. After a third-place showing as a freshman in 2024, the Cumberland standout won it all last fall with her PR of 18:17.27. She was also the top RI finisher at the New England Championships (fifth) and the Nike Cross Nationals Northeast Regional (13th). Cross country is Ludwig’s forte. Just as she did her frosh campaign, she competed on the school’s basketball team during the winter months.
Ludwig comes into this fall after a solid outdoor season, highlighted by a second-place finish in the 1,500-meter run at the Class A meet with a 17-second best of 4:42.48. She’ll be up for the challenge to repeat the magic this fall. Also returning from their scorers are Stoothoff (sixth), Crawford (ninth) and Bianchi (12th), the indoor 3K state champion.
Also expected to make an impact is incoming freshman Caylee Kurbec. The talented ninth-grader captured the junior high state title for North Cumberland Middle School last fall. She also won the eighth-grade crown at the Ocean State Invitational and placed high in several other top competitions, regionally and on the national level. Her 10:54.25 for 3K at the middle school championship projects to a 5K equivalent under 19 minutes
This Clipper squad has the ability to have all five of its scorers in the 18-minute range at Ponaganset! That’s tough to beat. The only thing that can hurt the Clippers are their numbers. Depth will be their biggest issue. But if they stay healthy and are at their best, it could be celebration time in Cumberland for the fourth straight year.
