Through the successes she’s had on the cross country course during her time in high school, Ada Ferrell has had plenty of backup.
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Through the successes she’s had on the cross country course during her time in high school, Ada Ferrell has had plenty of backup.
Headed into the 2026 season this fall, that backup has grown.
With the addition of sophomore Victoria Riggs, who ran for the Blue Knights as a freshman, and the continued solid core of runners around her, Ferrell is ready for even bigger things than the 70th-place finish she earned at last year’s Class 3 state meet.
“When people think about cross country, they think ‘individual sport,’” Ferrell said. “It’s you and (only) you. But it is really big on team. Running by yourself is very boring. When I’m at practice, I’m running with my friends, and everyone is having a good time. (David) Schnell, being our coach, has really improved my mentality.”
For everything the team has done for Ferrell, she’s done just as much, if not more, for those around her.
Fellow senior Liliana Wiedemeier said that continuing personal success in, once again, eclipsing her personal record – or PR – is important.
But that’s just a part of the story of the coming season, as she sees things.
“My expectations for myself are just to PR,” Wiedemeier said. “Every year, I’ve PR’ed. I want to go (under) 25 minutes. As a team, I really think we can do very well at conference (at the Eastern Missouri Conference meet, scheduled for October 17) because we have a full team for the first time in a few years now.”
That full-team dynamic has Schnell excited.
The coach said that Ferrell, Wiedemeier, Riggs and junior Madison Goodman, who also joins the team this season, form a solid core of runners capable of good things.
“Ada and Lili are our seniors,” Schnell said. “Ada has been to state two times in a row now. We want to get her back, for sure. We have two really good new girls coming in. With the team we have now, we’re looking to make a push to win the conference for the first time ever. We have two strong front runners (in Ferrell and Riggs). If you have two strong front runners to lead the pack, you can go pretty far.”
Ferrell, who completed the Gans Creek course at the state meet, is hoping to see herself and those around her go far.
After completing the course in 21 minutes, 52 seconds to pace 70th, she’s ready to see herself progress.
She’s just as excited to get the chance to push those around her as much as her contemporaries will push her during each run.
“This year, I’m really hoping to drop my times by a lot,” Ferrell said. “I’m hoping to hit PRs early on. Last year, I was injured, so my knee was a little weak. This year, it’s super strong, so I’m trying to get more miles in and quicker miles in. I think I’m just ready for what the season has for me. I feel great about the team. It’s going to be great to have someone to run with at meets. I’m excited.”
The Wildcats are scheduled to open the season on September 8 at the Van-Far Invitational.
