Last year Pacelli freshman Kayla Christopherson made a big jump at the Class A state cross country meet. This year, she’s hoping to take another leap.

Christopherson, who took 20th at the state meet last season, is aiming for a top-10 finish when she competes in the state meet at St. Olaf College in Northfield 1 p.m. Saturday.

“I would say that her race last year definitely raised the bar,” Pacelli head coach Jim Parlin said. “It was a great effort on her part last year with a personal best time on a pretty tough course. I think now we’re hoping to get her on the podium.”

Christopherson has taken first or second in most of her meets this season and she won the Austin Invite recently before taking second at the Section 1A meet. Christopherson said she was a little cold at the section meet, but she was still able to finish with a time of 19:50.1. Grace Ping of Winona Cotter, who is the top ranked runner in Minnesota, took first in the Section 1A meet with a time of 17:48.9.

Christopherson is hoping she can keep pace with Ping at state.

“She’s definitely a blessed runner. She’s a great competitor. I hope to race against her again at the state meet and I hope to beat her,” Christopherson said. “I’m definitely trying to get on the podium this year.”

Christopherson said having two previous runs at state gives her an advantage of knowing what to expect with the course. She was also thankful for everyone who helped her get to her third straight state meet.

“I want to thank my parents, my coaches and God for all of the gifts that he gave me,” she said.

Blooming Prairie’s Alec Ille and GMLOS’s Peter Toreklson will run in the Class A boys state meet in Northfield 2 p.m. Saturday.