It's Championships Galore On Conference Tuesday!

Bemidji Invitational

Weather: 65 degrees, some clouds, moderate wind

BOYS

Top Teams: Bemidji (45 points), Perham (56), Moorhead (67)

Top Individuals: Carson Speicher (Perham, 16:16), Soren Dybing (Bemidji, 16:22), Clayton Anderson (Perham, 16:24), Zach Johnson (Moorhead, 16:25), Dawson Strom (Moorhead, 16:28)

The Skinny: With neither Bemidji or Moorhead competing in a conference championship for cross country, this meet acts as something of a surrogate in that regard, although the past few years have only really seen those two school matched up against Perham (with a smattering of other runners from smaller area schools like TrekNorth). Assuming all the teams invited will attend (a tall order as several of them are competing in conference meets either today or yesterday), those three teams would still run away from the field. simply because they are three high-quality teams or similar skill levels. Most of these runners are coming off strong PRs from Perham's home invitational two weeks ago, but with this Greenwood course running fairly slow, don't expect Carson Speicher, Soren Dybing and the rest to drop any amazing times.

GIRLS

Top Teams: Perham (30 points), Moorhead (52), Bemidji (64)

Top Individuals: Sadie Hamrin (Bemidji, 18:35), Caitlin Covington (Perham, 18:59), Jerzie Finstad (Thief River Falls, 19:33), Liz Birkeland (Perham, 19:44), Ashley Hokanson (Perham, 19:47)

The Skinny: It's appearing more and more that this may be the strongest Perham team in recent years, even more so than their State Champion squad from 2015. Even Caitlin Covington is on a pace ahead of her sister Brynnan from last year when she finished 3rd at State (although this year is probably far deeper). As such, they shouldn't have much of a problem taking down Moorhead and Bemidji, especially considering they just defeated both two weeks ago at their home invitational. That said, Class AA's honorable mention  individual Sadie Hamrin just had her strongest race in two years, and is looking like she's back in the form that she was when she got 15th at State in 2015, so she'll be a good challenge individually for Covington.