Conference Tuesday - The Biggest Day Of XC Of The Year

Location: St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, Hastings

Weather: Sunny with a high of 53. Windy.

BOYS

Virtual Meet Projections: Saint Thomas Academy (35), Mahtomedi (81), Hastings (85)

Top Individuals: Eric Howd (Hastings, 16:37), Luke Kolar (STA, 16:47), Thomas Thurlow (STA, 16:55), Grant Dilla (Simley High School, 17:16), Matt Krummel (Tartan High School, 17:23), Padon Kinzley (STA, 17:27).

The Skinny: Saint Thomas Academy looks to have a clear shot at taking first at this meet with a projection of 35 points, matching their winning point total from last year. Their closest competitor (Mahtomedi) is projected to score 81 points, so STA can feel pretty comfortable with their advantage. They can probably expect around three or four of their runners to end up in the top 10 at the Metro East Championships on Tuesday, including top runner Luke Kolar. That said, Eric Howd (Hastings) looks to be the top runner at this event and he's been having a strong XC season so far. He owns a PR of 16:37 from the Red Wing Invite and most recently ran to a 2nd place finish at the Trinity Invitational with a time of 16:39. Kolar (STA) had a finish of 6th at the Milaca Mega Meet with a time of 16:47, and should be coming into the race fresh with just four 5K races under his belt this year so far.

GIRLS

Virtual Meet Projections: South Saint Paul (40), Henry Sibley (61), Mahtomedi (66)

Top Individuals: Linnea Urban (Hastings, 19:27), Nicole Kelly (South Saint Paul, 19:41), Rose Dill (Henry Sibley High, 20:00), Amanda Kelly (South Saint Paul, 20:01), Sarah Anaya (Simley, 20:15), Tessa Laska (South Saint Paul, 20:24)

The Skinny: South Saint Paul looks to have a comfortable lead in the team point projections for Tuesday's race, coming in with 40 points over Sibley High with 61. This would be a reversal of last year's result in which Sibley defeated their rival by fifteen points. The top runner however for Tuesday looks to be Linnea Urban (Hastings) who recently just had an impressive PR of 19:27 at the Trinity Invite, which was preceded by a first-place finish at the Red Wing Invite just a few days earlier, so sh'es coming in looking very strong. Nicole Kelly (SSP) had a 3rd place finish at Trinity with a time of 19:41, so she could be another runner to watch today, as should defending champion Rose Dill of Henry Sibley.

(written by Austin Mielke)