Weather: Low 60s, high humidity
BOYS
Virtual Meet Projection: Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin (40), Grand Rapids (86), Mountain Iron-Buhl (89)
Top Individuals: Geno Uhrbom (GNK, 15:36), Tyler Norgord (Grand Rapids, 16:45), Taran Howard (Deer River, 16:50), Garrett Beckrich (Grand Rapids, 17:02), Greg Peterson (GNK, 17:03), Aaron Nelson (Mountain Iron-Buhl, 17:11)
The Skinny: Geno Uhrbom is off to a great start to his season with two individual wins and a runner-up finish to a top ten ranked Class AA runner, Eli Hoeft of Hopkins. Of course, last year he didn't lose a single regular-season meet, including beating Hoeft at the same meet, but in all other ways, it's hard to think he isn't ahead of last year's pace. After a track season of great racing and running personal bests in the 800, 1600, and 3200, Uhrbom is set up nicely for a great cross country season. His team from Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin also have the eyes on them. They are currently ranked fifth in Class A, which is not a surprise after their seventh place finish last year and they have looked strong so far. It does not look like any team will be able to beat them especially since they already beat their strongest competition, Grand Rapids, by 155 points at the Little Falls Lucky Lindy Invitational (even without their usual number two-runner Greg Peterson, who has not run in GNK's last two meets). As for the battle for second individually, the only contender who has run a PR yet this year is Mountain Iron-Buhl's freshman Aaron Nelson, who has three top-seven finishes thus far this year, and has beaten each other contender except Grand Rapid's Garrett Beckrich.
GIRLS
Virtual Meet Projection: Mesabi East (55), Hibbing (69), Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin(79)
Top Individuals: Ava Hill (Mesabi East, 18:11), Bella Thomas (Mesabi East, 20:10), Brooke Niska (Mountain Iron-Buhl, 20:11), Natalie Fultz (Eveleth-Gilbert, 20:38)
The Skinny: Ava Hill is currently undefeated after three meets this season. Despite that, she is ranked seventh in the increasingly-stacked individual Class A field. Hill finished eighth at State last year in only her first year of competing in cross country. It will be interesting to watch the two-time State 800m champion as she starts facing better competition and continues to get a better feel of the longer distance because she focuses on the shorter distances during the track season. With Bella Thomas following behind her teammate Hill, their team from Mesabi East has a good chance of taking the team title. They will have strong competition from Hibbing and GNK. Of course, Mesabi East has already beaten Hibbing and GNK at the Virginia Invitational earlier this season. However, most recently at the GNK Titan Invitational, Hibbing and Mesabi East tied for second place, which could make for an exciting rematch today.