It's Championships Galore On Conference Tuesday!

2017 Minnesota XC Meet Previews

Oct 17, 2017

Wright County Conference East Championships

Weather: 70 and Sunny

BOYS

Top Teams: Waconia (33 points), Hutchinson (37), New Prague (58)

Top Individuals: Adam Ebent (Waconia, 16:45), Mitchell Grand (Hutchinson, 16:45), Hayden Degross (New Prague, 16:56), Logan Hoff (Hutchinson, 17:05), Simon Razidlo (Waconia, 17:09), Jack Jaeger (Hutchinson, 17:09)

The Skinny: By a very slim margin, it appears the advantage in this race goes to Waconia, but it is pretty remarkable just how similarly-constructed both Hutchinson and Waconia really are, even to the point that both their top runners have the same season-best. Those two runners also happen to be the apparent top runners in the competition, although if you have to pick one, Ebent has probably been having the better, more consistent season, despite missing some aces in September. However, it would be prudent to keep an eye out for New Prague's Hayden Degross, who is coming off a strong, career-best run last week at the Jordan Invitational.

GIRLS

Top Teams: Wacoinia (29 points), Orono (64), New Prague (71)

Top Individuals: Riviera Wock (Orono, 19:03), Kaleesa Houston (Waconia, 19:08), Aubrey Mair (Waconia, 19:50), Quincy Shelp (Orono, 10:05), Sydney Siegle (New Prague (20:12), Jamie Sorenson (Waconia, 20:13), Maya Lindstrom (Waconia 20:13), Makayla Maher (Hutchinson, 20:13)

The Skinny: The girls team battle doesn't look like it will be that much of a battle at all. Waconia owns four of the seven fastest times in the field and puts all five of their scorers in the top 11, including two of the three runners who have gone sub-20 minutes. Interestingly the third athlete is the one who actually has the fastest time overall, Orono 8th-grader Riviera Wock. Wock had a very good track season, but had been struggling in cross country until her last race in Litchfield where she improved her season best by over two minutes. Whether that improvement can carry over into this race remains to be seen, but even if it does, it will be very diffidult to beat the older and much more consistent Houston of Waconia, who has gone under 20 minutes four times this year. Even so, Wock did beat Houston at Litchfield, so it ought to be a very good battle.