Emma Balaban
Girls · Junior · Class of 2028 · IMG Academy Independent
Cross Country career bests 4 races
5k progression 4 races, all seasons
2026 season · IMG Academy Independent 5k SB 17:10
| Date | Meet | Race | Place | Time | Pace/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-17 | New World Fall Spectacular | Girls Elite | 3 | 17:10 PR | 5:31 |
| 2026-10-02 | Great American XC Festival | Girls 5000m COROS Race of Champions | 15 | 17:42.9 | |
| 2026-09-19 | The Southern Showcase (HS) | Girls 5000m Champ Div | 1 | 17:45.2 | |
| 2026-09-05 | IMGA XC Summit Challenge | Girls High School | 1 | 17:14.1 | 5:32.8 |
Rankings history
#3 2026 Week 9 Overall Girls#2 2026 Week 8 Overall Girls#2 2026 Week 7 Overall Girls#2 2026 Week 6 Overall Girls#2 2026 Week 5 Overall Girls#2 2026 Week 4 Overall Girls#2 2026 Week 3 Overall Girls
#3 — Overall Girls 2026 Week 9
Third at New World in 17:10, her first loss to a Florida girl this season. Fifteenth of 324 in the Race of Champions in Cary on October 3, the first Florida girl across, and winner of the Southern Showcase and the IMGA Summit (17:14.1).
#2 — Overall Girls 2026 Week 8
Did not race. Fifteenth of 324 in the Race of Champions at the Great American XC Festival in 17:42.9 on October 3, the first Florida girl across, ahead of Antunez-Perez, Krueger, Reinhardt and Johnson. Won the Southern Showcase in 17:45.2 in September, and her 17:14.1 at the IMGA Summit is the fastest time by a Florida girl this fall.
#2 — Overall Girls 2026 Week 7
Fifteenth of 324 in the Race of Champions in 17:42.9, the first Florida girl across, ahead of Antunez-Perez, Krueger, Reinhardt and Johnson. Won the Southern Showcase in 17:45.2 in September, and her 17:14.1 at the IMGA Summit is the fastest time by a Florida girl this fall.
#2 — Overall Girls 2026 Week 6
Did not race. Won the Southern Showcase in 17:45.2 on September 19, and her 17:14.1 at the IMGA Summit is still the fastest time by a Florida girl this fall. She has beaten Reinhardt and Johnson twice each.
#2 — Overall Girls 2026 Week 5
Won the Southern Showcase championship race in 17:45.2, 31 seconds ahead of the field, in a 160-girl race, and IMG won the meet with 34 points. The course reads about 31 seconds fast for girls, so the run levels to 18:16, a win, and not counted; her 17:14.1 at the IMGA Summit ranks her and is still the fastest time by a Florida girl this fall.
#2 — Overall Girls 2026 Week 4
Did not race. Her 17:14.1 at IMG's Summit Challenge is worth about 17:23 at Cecil Field, the best figure on the board by a quarter of a minute. North Carolina runner-up as a sophomore, fourth at RunningLane, 10:26 for 3,200 on the track. IMG competes as an FHSAA Independent, so there is no state meet in her future. Second because Muller beat her the one time they raced.
#2 — Overall Girls 2026 Week 3
Won the IMGA Summit Challenge out of 64 in 17:14.1, 47 seconds clear of a teammate who ran 18:01. The course reads a touch fast, and even so the run is worth around 17:23 on neutral ground, better than anything any other Florida girl has produced this season.
The resume is real. She was the runner-up at the North Carolina state meet as a sophomore, fourth at the RunningLane championships, and has run 10:26 for 3,200 meters on the track, within three seconds of the best girls on this page. IMG Academy competes as an FHSAA Independent, outside the state series, so there is no state meet in her past or her future. She is second because Muller beat her the one time they raced. If they meet again this fall, that is the race of the season.
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