Weather: 70 and scattered showers with 28 mph winds
BOYS
Virtual Meet Projection: Saint James (36), Lac Qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd (45), Redwood Valley (95)
Top Individuals: Mikey Kvaal (LQPVDB, 16:29), Ezekiel Sather (LQPVDB, 16:39), Seth Pierson (Saint James, 17:02), Troy Parulski (Saint James, 17:03), Nick Batchelor (Milbank, 17:15)
The Skinny: A big team race will be at play today as Saint James and Lac Qui Parle Valley matchup today. They are ranked third and seventh in Class A, respectively. The big thing for LQPVDB is that they do not have one set low stick, and instead they have Mikey Kvaal and Ezekiel Sather who trade off the dominance with each race, but continuously finish near one another. Sather is off to a great start to his season and has already taken 37 seconds off of his personal best from last season in only his fourth race this year. It will be interesting to see those two battle for the win as neither has a win to their name this season. Saint James also has two top runners in Seth Pierson and Troy Parulski, two runners that will be looking to break up the duo from LQPV to increase their chances of the team title. It will come down to a very close team score between the two schools and the strong winds could lead to a slower race and closer individual battle as well.
GIRLS
Virtual Meet Projection: Lac Qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd (49), Milbank (79), Redwood Valley (110)
Top Individuals: Morgan Gehl (Murray County Central, 18:17), Isabel Schirm (Lac Qui Parle Valley, 19:29), Grace Hegland (LQPVDB, 20:13), Paola Acevedo (Saint James, 20:20)
The Skinny: Morgan Gehl of Murray County Central is having a stellar season so far. She is undefeated in her four races and is currently ranked fourth in the state. She has already run a 18 second personal best and started her season out much stronger than last year. That bodes well for a great season being that she was the fourth place finisher at last year's state meet. The race for second will be on between Isabel Schirm and Grace Hegland of Lac Qui Parle Valley and Paola Acevedo of Saint James. Schirm has been the more dominant runner of the three and looks to be in good form this year with a 50 second personal best and three wins in the 5k distance already this season. She will be leading her team this season as they return from their tenth place finish at the State Meet last year. The LQPV team has grabbed two solid wins this year but suffered a pretty big loss at the New London-Spicer Little Crow Invitational, so they will be looking to reassert themselves at their home meet.