Another Busy Tuesday - Staples, WCA, Loyola & Stewartville

PREVIEW

NRHEG Invite

Location: Riverview Golf Course, New Richland

Weather: High 60s, 40% chance of rain, high humidity

BOYS

Virtual Meet Projection: Mankato Loyola/Cleveland (21), Tri-City United (38)

Top Individuals: Mitch Johnstone (Mankato Loyola/Cleveland, 16:33), Hugo Ruiz (Tri-City United, 16:37), Jerrett Peterson (Mankato Loyola/Cleveland, 16:59), Brett Omtvedt (Mankato Loyola/Cleveland, 17:15)

The Skinny: For the fifth time this season, 6th-ranked Mitch Johnstone and 7th-ranked Hugo Ruiz will have another face-off. Ruiz has come out on top in three of their previous matchups, finishing 22 seconds in front of Johnstone in the most recent one, the Loyola/Cleveland Crusader Invitational. That margin is notable, because the two were within 5 seconds of each other in each of their first three battles. Brett Omtvedt will look to take 3rd again, like he did in that meet. The 2nd-ranked Mankato Loyola/Cleveland boys should cruise to the win, with Tri-City United being their closest competition. No other team is projected to score under 100 points, so it should not be a particularly close team battle.

GIRLS

Virtual Meet Projection:  Waterville-Elysian-Morristown/Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (35), Mankato Loyola/Cleveland (79), Tri-City United (80), Austin Pacelli/Lyle (83)

Top Individuals: Kayla Christopherson (Pacelli/Lyle, 19:07), Addison Peed (WEM/JWP, 20:10), Lauran Dimler (WEM/JWP, 20:18), Rory Bickler (Pacelli/Lyle, 20:25)

The Skinny: Kayla Christopherson has finished no worse than 9th at State any of the previous three seasons, but has yet to break 20:00 on the season. She'll look to do so for the first time tomorrow, and she will also attempt to defend her meet title from last year. Her biggest competition will be Addison Peed, whose 5k SB is just 5 seconds back of Christopherson's. Ellie Nygren is the only other girl under 21:00 this fall, and should be favored for 3rd. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown appear to be the favorites on paper, led by Peed and Lauran Dimler in the top five. The battle for 2nd looks to be the toughest to call, as Mankato/Loyola Cleveland, Tri-City United, and Austin Pacelli are all within 4 points of one another in the virtual meet.

(written by Sam O'Donnell-Hoff)