Lake Conference Showdown Highlights The Day

2017 Minnesota XC Meet Previews

Oct 12, 2017

Minnesota Christian Athletic Association Championships

Weather: Low-60's, cloudy, moderate wind, tiny chance of rain

BOYS

Top Teams: Heritage Christian Academy (47 points), Trinity School at River Ridge (53), Spectrum (62)

Top Individuals: Jebediah Merkle (Southwest Christian, 16:37), Zackary Anderson (Spectrum, 17:09), Travis Miller (Heritage Christian Academy, 17:18), Jared Nordstrom (heritage Christian Academy, 17:27)

The Skinny: Jebediah Merkle has not run in over two weeks even though his Southwest Christian team has, so it's unclear if he will be able to, or is planning to, run today. If he does, as one of Class A's best runners and a returning All-State athlete in track, he should be expected to win comfortably. What may be more interesting, however, is the team battle, where our virtual meet only projects a six-point difference between Heritage and Trinity. This will be the first time this season those two teams have faced each other, so the conference champion is about as up-in-the-air as it can be at this point.

GIRLS

Top Teams: Heritage Christian Academy (43 points), Spectrum (75), Trinity School at River Ridge (76)

Top Individuals: Maria Streed (Southwest Christian, 20:21), Taylor Lundquist (Heritage Christian Academy, 20:29), Simone Lundquist (Heritage Christian Academy, 20:48), Olivia Witt (Saint Croix Prep, 21:00), Kate Cunningham (Trinity School at River Ridge, 21:28)

The Skinny: Heritage appears to have a stronger hold on the girls side than they do the boys. as they come in with two of the three fastest athletes in the field. The battle for second, however, will be very interesting, as our virtual meet places only a one-point difference between Spectrum and Trinity. But again, the favorite in the meet will be an athlete from Southwest Christian, specifically Maria Streed. Streed has yet to qualify for State in her career, but she is in a good position to possibly do so this fall