Over A Dozen Meets Make Up Massive Day Of Racing

PREVIEW

SJP Father Otto Weber Invite

Location: Saint John's Prep, Collegeville

Weather: High 50s and scattered showers

BOYS

Virtual Meet Projections: Hutchinson (21), Watertown-Mayer (86)

Top Individuals: Mitchell Grand (Hutchinson, 16:24), Ben Becker (Hutchinson, 16:40), Michael Miller (Maple Lake, 16:50), Christopher Borash (Royalton, 16:57), Jacob Lipke (Hutchinson, 16:57)

The Skinny: The team from Hutchinson is the standout team at today's race. Their fifth runner is projected to finish ahead of any team's second runner. They also grab the top two individual rankings with Mitchell Grand and Ben Becker. The teammates are having great seasons, both having run personal bests in their first meet of the season. Becker is having a breakout season as in the race that he ran his personal best (Orono Twilight), he ran 2 minutes and 28 seconds faster than he did at that meet last year. Michael Miller is another individual in the field having a great start to his season, also running a personal best right at the start of his season. He was 51st at the state meet last year in Class A. It will be interesting to see how he stacks up against Grand and Becker, Class AA runners, at this point in his season.

GIRLS

Virtual Meet ProjectionsMaple Lake (33), United North Central (Sebeka/Menahga) (50), Hutchinson (61)

Top Individuals: Annika Aho (Menahga, 19:51), Augustus Demarais (Maple Lake, 19:59), Sophie Pribyl (Maple Lake, 20:01), Mary Miller (Maple Lake, 20:03), Isabelle Schmitz (Hutchinson, 20:06)

The Skinny: It will be interesting to see how Maple Lake takes this meet as they just ran at Dassel-Cokato two days ago. Augustus Demarais, Sophie Pribyl, and Annika Aho all had great finishes at the State Meet last year where they finished 41st, 55th, and 61st in Class A, respectively. Pribyl and Demarais have are teammates from Maple Lake and have been trading of the leader between the two. Pribyl has been the top runner for the team twice this season whereas Demarais only has one. Adding Aho into the mix will make it interesting for a battle for the leader. Demarais won this meet last year, well ahead of Aho's second place finish but it should be a closer race today especially with the early results from the two teammates. Maple Lake is currently ranked ninth in class A, so it would be very surprising if they were beat today. Their top three runners are very solid and near the top in this field so that will help them take a nice win at this meet.

(written by Emma Benner)