IMAC, MCAA, And Some Rescheduled Invitationals Go Today

Location: Bassett Creek Park, Crystal

Weather: Cloudy with a high around 40

Top Individuals: Evan Lee (MLLPHT, 16:42), Jared Nordstrom (Heritage, 17:01), Travis Miller (Heritage, 17:05), Evan Jacobson (Heritage, 17:22), Matthew Helser (Spectrum, 17:27)

The Skinny: Heritage Christian Academy looks to be the leader at the MCAA Championships with a projection of 28 points. The state-qualifying squad from last year are the meet's defending champions as they had 45 points over Trinity's 49 a year ago. Spectrum could make things a little interesting this year if they can cut some time with their #2 and #5 runners. Meanwhile, Evan Lee looks to be the top runner at today's meet as he's the only one to have broken the 17-minute barrier (which he has done twice this year), and he just had an impressive 5K PR at the Litchfield Invite a week ago with a time of 16:42. Jared Nordstrom also just had a PR at the Thundering Royal Elk Invite with a time of 17:01. Miller finished 2nd at last year's MCAA Meet, and will likely finish in the top 3 in this year's race.

Top Individuals: Simone Lundquist (Heritage Christian Academy, 20:15), Jessa Heimerl (MLLPHT, 20:27), Molly Novotny (Spectrum, 21:07), Martha Bergley (Spectrum, 21:37), Kara Lee (Lester Prairie High, 21:43)

The Skinny: Heritage Christian Academy appears to have a thin edge for today's championships with a projection of 11 points separating them from Mayer Lutheran/LP/HT, and while Spectrum has a few top runners in thie meet, their lack of top depth will likely put them out of reach. Like the boys, Heritage won last year with a score of 41 points. Simone Lundquist just had a PR of 20:15 at the Thundering Royal Elk Invite and will likely be the top runner for the girls, just as she is the top returner from last year (in which her older sister was the champion). Jessa Heimerl also just had a PR of 20:27 in the 5K at the Litchfield Invitea and is the only other runner to go sub-21 minutes, so she looks like she'll be Lundquist's biggest challenge.

(written by Austin Mielke)

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