Over A Dozen Meets Make Up Massive Day Of Racing

Pelican Rapids Glenn Moerke Invitational

Location: Birchwood Golf Course, Pelican Rapids

Weather: Low 50s and scattered showers

BOYS

Virtual Meet Projections: Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (29), Thief River Falls (46), Park Rapids (78)

Top Individuals: David Johnston (Pelican Rapids, 17:13), Cade Dawson (DGF, 17:20), Alec Gulseth (DGF, 17:55), Jacob Davis (Thief River Falls, 18:13)

The Skinny: DGF and Thief River Falls last raced against each other at their most recent meet of the Bagley/Fosston Invitational, where Thief River Falls just edged DGF by 14 points. However, as it will be a smaller meet today where TRF's superior spread won't matter quite as much, DGF should be able to make up the difference and come away with the win thanks to owning three of the top five individuals. David Johnston of Pelican Rapids will be challenged for the individual win by two of those DGF runners, Cade Dawson and Alec Gulseth. Dawson is coming off a strong PR run at Milaca, while Gulseth is still working himself up to his fitness level from last season. Thief River Fall's Jacob Davis could factor in the individual battle too, and he is also coming off a PR run.

GIRLS

Virtual Meet Projections: Pelican Rapids (37), Thief River Falls (44), Hawley (61)

Top Individuals: Jerzie Finstad (Thief River Falls, 19:33), Abby Syverson (Pelican Rapids, 20:08), Maddie Guler (Pelican Rapids, 20:52), Dru Harbott (Thief River Falls, 21:15), Marissa John (DGF, 21:27)

The Skinny: Pelican Rapids is the team to beat today as they have defeated their top opponent, Thief River Falls, twice this season already. Pelican Rapids has them beat with their top three runners that have only been separated by ten seconds at a few meets this season. Thief River Falls has the top runner in Jerzie Finstad who has had a great start to her season. She is a very consistent runner and has had small improvements with each of her races this season, building on the last. This bodes well for a dominating win today and continuing to improve throughout her season. She was 134th at last year's state meet but 76th in 2016 and it looks like she has returned to that 2016 form. Abby Syverson, Maddie Guler, and Elli Johnson are the pack of three from Pelican Rapids that will be interesting to watch today to see how close they finish together and in what order. Syverson tends to be the top runner but the other two are never far behind.