Avery Stephens

2026 Women's Cross Country Roster

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Personal Records

800m (Outdoor): 2:29.91 – SIUE Cougar Classic (Apr 12, 2025)
1500m (Outdoor): 4:54.05 – Sycamore Open (May 8, 2026)
Mile (Indoor): 5:27.15 – John Gartland Invitational (Feb 22, 2025)
3000m (Outdoor): 10:37.72 – Billy Hayes Invitational (May 9, 2025)
3000m (Indoor): 10:11.53 – MVC Indoor Championships (Mar 1-2, 2026)
5000m (Outdoor): 17:32.78 – Outdoor Music City Challenge (May 1-2, 2026)
5000m (Indoor): 17:38.72 – MVC Indoor Championships (Mar 1-2, 2026)
10000m (Outdoor): 36:42.16 – WashU Distance Carnival (Mar 26-27, 2026)
4K (Cross Country): 14:23.0 – Stegemoller Screagle Twilight (Sep 4, 2026)
5K (Cross Country): 18:24.0 – Louisville Classic (Oct 3, 2026)
6K (Cross Country): 22:32.9 – NCAA Great Lakes Region Cross Country Championships (Nov 14, 2025)

2026–27 Season (Senior Year)
Cross Country

2025-26 Season Bests (Junior Year)
Indoor Track & Field

MVC Indoor Championships (Mar 1-2, 2026):
- 3000m: 10:11.53, 19th place
- 5000m: 17:38.72m, 15th place

Outdoor Track & Field

Cross Country

Stegemoller Twilight (Aug 29, 2025):
- 4K: 14:36.3, 10th place
Panther Prowl (Sep 5, 2025):
- 5K: 18:49.9, 2nd place
NCAA Great Lakes Region Cross Country Championships (Nov 14, 2025):
- 6K: 22:32.9, 140th place

2024–25 Season (Sophomore Year)
Indoor Track & Field

Scott Fangman Invitational (Dec 6–7, 2024):
- 3000m: 10:45.00, 1st place
PNC Bank Bellarmine Classic (Jan 24, 2025):
- 3000m: 10:41.40, 8th place
UAB Vulcan Invitational (Feb 7, 2025):
- 3000m: 10:45.95, 19th place
UAB Green and Gold Invite (Feb 8, 2025):
- Mile: 5:30.83, 24th place
John Gartland Invitational (Feb 22, 2025):
- Mile: 5:27.15, 9th place
Music City Challenge (Feb 14–15, 2025):
- 5000m: 18:33.72, 44th place
MVC Indoor Championships (Mar 2–3, 2025):
- 5000m: 18:27.23, 21st place

Outdoor Track & Field

SLU Billiken Invite (Mar 29, 2025):
- 1500m: 5:11.59, 21st place
EIU Big Blue (Apr 4–5, 2025):
- 1500m: 5:09.28, 15th place
- 5000m: 18:18.81, 2nd place
SIUE Cougar Classic (Apr 12, 2025):
- 800m: 2:29.91, 18th place
Gibson Invitational (Apr 17–19, 2025):
- 5000m: 18:26.15, 12th place
Outdoor Music City Challenge (May 2–3, 2025):
- 5000m: 18:02.92, 25th place
Billy Hayes Invitational (May 9, 2025):
- 3000m: 10:37.72, 3rd place
MVC Outdoor Championships (May 17–18, 2025):
- 10,000m: 38:57.23, 9th place
- 5000m: 18:33.72, 26th place

Cross Country

2023–24 Season (Freshman Year)
Indoor Track & Field

Outdoor Track & Field

Cross Country

Stegemoller Classic (Sep 1, 2023):
- 4K: 16:12.1, 18th place
John McNichols Invitational (Sep 16, 2023):
- 5K: 20:53.4, 143rd place
Live in Lou XC Classic (Sep 29–30, 2023):
- 5K: 21:19.3, 143rd place
Angel Mounds Invitational (Oct 13, 2023):
- 6K: 25:39.2, 119th place
MVC Cross Country Championships (Oct 27, 2023):
- 6K: 25:34.0, 99th place
NCAA Great Lakes Regional (Nov 10, 2023):
- 6K: 25:30.6, 222nd place

PREP

Lettered four years in cross country and three years in track at nearby Castle High School
Would have lettered a fourth year in track, if not for the COVID-19 pandemic
Ran for Steve Edwardson and Kaitlyn Poelhuis at Castle
Qualified for Semi-State and earned first-team all-conference honors in cross country as both a junior and a senior
A four-time Regional qualifier in cross country
Qualified for Regionals in the 3,200-Meters in Track as a senior
Also qualified for Regionals in the 4x800-Meter Relay twice in Track
Helped lead the Knights to track Sectional championships as both a junior and a senior

PERSONAL

Daughter of Jason and Nicole Stephens
Has two brothers – Cade and Camden
Loves to cook, bake, and read
Plans to major in Exercise Science at UE, with a track towards UE’s Doctorate of Physical Therapy
Chose UE because “my father went to UE and it is also super close to home, so I am still able to be away at college, but also stay close to friends and family at the same time.”