Conference Championships Begin

2017 Minnesota XC Meet Previews

Oct 10, 2017

Mankato East Invitational

Weather: Low 50's, cloudy, slight wind

BOYS

Top Teams: Owatonna (47 points), Mankato West (54), Waconia (94), Benilde-Saint Margaret's (104)

Top Individuals: Caedon Mccartney (Owatonna, 16:25), Adam Ebent (Waconia, 16:45), Connor Ginskey (Owatonna, 16:46), Abati Dedefo (Saint Louis Park, 16:47), Kellen Brudwick (Mankato West, 16:48), Jacob Haley (Mankato West, 16:57), Peter Lynch (Benilde-Saint Margaret's, 16:57)

The Skinny: With the fast times of Ev Berg still fresh on everyone's minds, Owatonna and Mankato West dominate the virtual meet, but don't let that fool you. Waconia and BSM will make things close in the team battle, as both teams have been having their best seasons in years. Same thing with the individuals, as possibly the top runner is Dedefo from St. Louis Park (if he is able to run, as he is also playing soccer this fall). It will be a very exciting battle to watch.

GIRLS

Top Teams: Waconia (78 points), Mankato West (79), Bloomington Jefferson (100), Owatonna (104)

Top Individuals: Elena Hayday (Bloomington Jefferson, 18:46), Delilah Baedke (Owatonna, 18:50), Tracy Renier (Benilde-Saint Margaret's, 18:52), Ella Dufault (Waseca, 18:52), Kaleesa Houston (Waconia, 19:08)

The Skinny: The individual battle in this race will probably be the best one today on the girls side. Elena Heyday is coming off a third-place Swain finish and has been having a great season, but both Houston and Dufault have multiple victories this year too. Still, perhaps the runner who has had the best season is Renier, who has been a top-5 finisher in all five of her races (winning one) and competed against some of Minnesota's best on a regular basis. The team battle won't be as full of heavyweights, it will be just as exciting. The only thing that would make it more exciting would be a healthy Margaret Dalseth, because then Visitation could make it an amazing-five-team battle.