One More Massive Day - Thursday Sections

Section 4A Championships

Location: Battle Creek Regional Park, Maplewood

Weather: Cloudy; Low 50s, high 40s at race time

BOYS

Season Best Projection: Nova Classical (56), Minnehaha Academy (102), Jordan (118)

Season Average ProjectionNova Classical (56), Mounds Park Academy (91), Minnehaha Academy (102), Jordan (105)

Top Individuals: Declan Dahlberg (Mounds Park; 15:56), Owen Keiser (Jordan; 16:16), Harris Anderson (MSA; 16:22), Jebediah Merkle (Southwest Christian; 16: 37), Chris Norton (Nova Classical; 16:46)

The Skinny: Nova Classical will likely take the win here. They have performed admirably throughout the season as senior Chris Norton has seamlessly taken the reigns from the graduated Lucas Mueller. Three teams will compete for second place, and a team qualification here. On average time, the boys from Mounds Park Academy are in second, but not too far behind are the teams from Jordan and Minnehaha. These three teams flip-flop depending on how the virtual meet is run and it will be fascinating to see who comes out on top. Minnehaha and Mounds Park Academy may have a bit of a "home-course advantage" as they ran their conference meet at Battle Creek two weeks ago (where Minnehaha edged out Mounds Park Academy by two points). The individual title will likely go to defending state champion, Declan Dahlberg. Owen Keiser of Jordan could look to challenge him, but he will also face competition from an impressive breakout season from sophomore Harris Anderson of Math and Science, as well as (assuming he is healthy and runs) Jebediah Merkle of Southwest Christian.

GIRLS

Season Best ProjectionMinnehaha Academy (75), Jordan (104), St. Paul Academy (112)

Season Average ProjectionMinnehaha Academy (71), Jordan (93), St. Paul Academy (109)

Top Individuals: Tierney Wolfgram (MSA; 17:19), Flannery Enneking-Norton (SPA; 19:40), Margo Nightingale (Mounds Park Academy; 19:48), Maddy Breton (SPA; 19:54), Grace Kirkpatrick (Minnehaha; 20:08)

The Skinny: Minnehaha will take the team title here, while it looks like Jordan will edge out SPA for the second team qualification. Defending state champion, Tierney Wolfgram will have one more runout before what promises to be a fascinating showdown with Grace Ping at St. Olaf. Behind her will be Flannery Enneking-Norton of SPA as well as seventh grader Margo Nightingale of Mounds Park Academy. Nightingale, in her first year as an eligible varsity runner, looks to build off an impressive runner-up finish to Enneking-Norton at conference with her first state qualification. Maddy Breton and Grace Kirkpatrick will round out the top five.