State Cross Country Meet Set

NSO-NEWS RELEASE

State Cross Country Running Meet

Three team champions return to defend 2012 titles; New individual champions will emerge in every race

                Three team champions return this Saturday, Nov. 2, when the Minnesota State High School League’s 2013 State Girls’ and Boys’ Cross Country Running Meet is conducted at St. Olaf College in Northfield. The Perham boys (Class A) and the Wayzata girls (Class AA) are both in the hunt for their second consecutive titles. The boys of Stillwater Area (Class AA) are looking for their third consecutive team championship.

                A new individual champion will emerge in every race. The 2012 runner-up is the highest returning qualifier in the Class A girls’ race and the Class AA boys’ and girls’ races. In the Class A boys’ event, last year’s third-place finisher leads all individual qualifiers.

                The girls run a 4,000-meter course. The boys run a 5,000-meter course.

                Class A Boys Highlights

                The Yellowjackets of Perham return to defend their 2012 title. They have five runners with previous state meet experience. Nine other teams also return from last year’s field: Plainview-Elgin-Millville, Cotter of Winona, Waseca, Martin County West of Sherburn, Redwood Valley of Redwood Falls, Minnehaha Academy of Minneapolis, Mora, St. Cloud Cathedral, and Proctor.

                The other teams qualified this year are Canby/Minneota/Lincoln HI, Mounds Park Academy of St. Paul, Glencoe-Silver Lake, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, Crosby-Ironton, and Roseau.

                The final rankings from the state coaches association for the qualified teams are: 1. Perham; 2. Waseca; 3. Minnehaha Academy; 4. Martin County West; 5. Crosby-Ironton; 6. Mora; 7. Plainview-Elgin-Millville; 8. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle; 10. Mounds Park Academy; and 12. St. Cloud Cathedral.

                Junior Shane Streich of Waseca is the highest returning individual medal-winner; he placed third in 2012. Five other Top 10 finishers also return: senior Nick Golebiowski of St. Cloud Cathedral, fourth; senior Keeghan Hurley of Perham, fifth; senior Ian Torchia of Rochester Lourdes, sixth; senior Jayden Cullen of Perham, eighth; and junior Isaac Overmyer of Park Rapids Area, 10th.

                Hurley was ranked No. 1 in the final coaches poll, followed by Torchia at No. 2, Streich at No. 3, Overmyer at No. 7, and Cullen at No. 8.

                Class A Girls Highlights

                Six of last year’s 16 teams are back. The Annandale Cardinals, who earned runner-up honors the last two years, are the highest returning qualifiers. They return with five runners from last year’s roster. Other teams that are returning are Waseca, Spectrum/Legacy, Holdingford, International Falls, and Perham. The other qualified teams are Dover-Eyota, Lake City, Fairmont, Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd, Luverne, Holy Family Catholic of Victoria, St. Paul Academy and Summit School, St. Cloud Cathedral, South Ridge/Cherry/North Woods, and Park Rapids Area.

                The final rankings from the state coaches association for the qualified teams are: 1. Annandale; 3. Perham; 4. Fairmont; 5. Dover-Eyota; 6. Waseca; 7. St. Cloud Cathedral; 8. Luverne; 9. Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd; 11. St. Paul Academy & Summit School; and 12. Spectrum/Legacy.

                Senior Emi Trost of Cannon Falls, who earned runner-up honors last year, is the highest returning Top 10 finisher. She was also ranked No. 1 in the final coaches poll.

                Four additional Top 10 finishers also return: senior McKenzie Holt of St. Cloud Christian, third; sophomore Elizabeth Schlafke of Annandale, sixth; senior Savannah Ramirez of Litchfield, seventh; and ninth-grader Madison Schandelmeier of Luverne, ninth.

                Schandelmeier was No. 3 in the final rankings from the state coaches association, followed by Holt at No. 6, and Schlafke at No. 12.

                Class AA Boys Highlights

                Nine of last year’s 16 teams will be back, including the two-time defending champions from Stillwater Area. The Ponies have three runners with previous state meet experience. Other teams returning from last year’s meet are Rosemount, White Bear Lake Area, Centennial of Circle Pines, Mounds View, Wayzata, Edina, Chisago Lakes Area of Lindstrom, and Bemidji. The other teams in the field are Red Wing, Lakeville North, Hutchinson, Chanhassen, Burnsville, Cloquet, and Alexandria.

                The final rankings from the state coaches association for the qualified teams are: 1. Wayzata; 2. Edina; 3. Stillwater Area; 4. Hutchinson; 6. Mounds View; 7. Centennial; 11. Rosemount; and 12. Bemidji.

                In the individual competition, senior Obsa Ali of Richfield is the highest returning qualifier. He is looking to improve on last year’s runner-up showing.

                In addition to Ali, three other 2012 Top 10 finishers also return: junior Joe Klecker of Hopkins, third; junior Connor Olson of Wayzata, fifth; and junior Faysal Malmoud of Burnsville, 10th.

                Ali was ranked No. 1 in the final coaches poll and Olson followed at No. 2.

                Class AA Girls Highlights

                All 16 teams, led by the defending champions from Wayzata, return from the 2012 field. The Trojans return with all nine members of last year’s team.

                The other returning teams are Lakeville South, Lakeville North, Chanhassen, Chaska, Eagan, Prior Lake, East Ridge of Woodbury, Roseville Area, Totino-Grace of Fridley, Mounds View, Edina, Forest Lake, Elk River, Moorhead, and Willmar.

                The final rankings from the state coaches association for the qualified teams are: 1. Wayzata; 2. East Ridge; 3. Edina; 4. Lakeville South; 5. Eagan; 6. Willmar; 7. Chanhassen; 9. Forest Lake;  11. Roseville Area; and 12. Prior Lake.

                Sophomore Anna French of Wayzata leads the field of five returning Top 10 finishers. She earned runner-up honors in 2012. The others are: sophomore Bethany Hasz of Alexandria, third; sophomore Megan Hasz of Alexandria, sixth; senior Bethany Kozak of White Bear Lake Area, eighth; and senior Anna Maurer of Hill-Murray of Maplewood, 10th.

                French was ranked No. 1 in the final coaches poll. The others were: Megan Hasz at No. 2; Bethany Hasz at No. 3; and Kozak at No. 10.

                The Schedule

                The Class AA girls’ race will start at 10 a.m., followed by the Class AA boys’ race at 11 a.m. The Class A girls’ race will start at 1 p.m., followed by the Class A boys’ race at 2 p.m. A combined awards ceremony will take place approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the boys’ race in each class.