State Cross Country Running Meet

Two team champions return to defend 2010 titles;
Three individual champions return

Two team champions return this Saturday, Nov. 5, when the Minnesota State High School League’s 2011 State Girls’ and Boys’ Cross Country Running Meet is conducted at St. Olaf College in Northfield. The Perham boys and Adrian girls are both in the hunt for their second consecutive titles in Class A.

Three individual champions also return in search of more gold. Junior Marisa Shady of Esko claimed top honors in the Class A girls’ race last year, and junior Maria Hauger of Shakopee has won the past two years in Class AA. Senior Mubarik Musa of Worthington is the only male champion to return; he took the Class A crown in 2009 and will be competing in Class AA this year. The girls run a 4,000-meter course. The boys run a 5,000-meter course.

Class A Boys Highlights

The Yellowjackets of Perham return to defend their 2010 title. They have five runners with previous state meet experience. Eight other teams also return from last year’s field: Plainview-Elgin-Millville, Waseca, Redwood Valley of Redwood Falls, Minnehaha Academy of Minneapolis, St. Cloud Cathedral, Mora, Albany, and Crosby-Ironton. The other teams qualified this year are Cotter of Winona, Martin County West of Sherburn, Luverne, The Blake School of Minneapolis, Ottertail Central (a co-op between Henning, Battle Lake, and Underwood), Mesabi East of Aurora, and Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton. The final rankings from the state coaches association for the qualified teams are: 1. St. Cloud Cathedral; 2. Perham; 3. The Blake School; 4. Waseca; 5. Mesabi East; 6. Redwood Valley; 7. Plainview-Elgin-Millville; 8. Minnehaha Academy; 10. Albany; 11. Crosby-Ironton; and 12. Ottertail Central.

Senior Brandon Clark of The Blake School is the highest returning individual medal-winner; he placed fourth in 2010. Two other Top 10 finishers also return: junior Johnathan Surber of St, James, fifth; and senior Bryon Schuldt of Nevis, sixth. Clark was ranked No. 1 in the final coaches poll and Schuldt followed at No. 9.

Class A Girls Highlights

Ten of last year’s 16 teams are back. The Adrian Dragons, who are the defending champions, return with five runners back from their 2010 team. Other teams that are returning are La Crescent, Waseca, The Blake School of Minneapolis, St. Cloud Cathedral, Annandale, Albany, Esko, Park Rapids Area, and Perham. The other qualified teams are Rochester Lourdes, United South Central of Wells, Luverne, Trinity School at River Ridge of Bloomington, Holdingford, and International Falls. The final rankings from the state coaches association for the qualified teams are: 1. St. Cloud Cathedral; 2. The Blake School; 3. Esko; 4. Waseca; 5. Adrian; 6. La Crescent; 7. Trinity School at River Ridge; 8. Annandale; 10. United South Central; 11. Park Rapids Area; and 12. Perham. Defending champion Marisa Shady, a junior from Esko, is the highest returning qualifier. Eight additional Top 10 finishers also return: senior Lauren Friese of Fairmont, runner-up; junior Elena Danielson of St. Cloud Cathedral, third; ninth-grader Jordan Chancellor of The Blake School, fourth; junior Kayla Woltz of Chatfield, fifth; junior Victoria Alexander of Lake of the Woods of Baudette, sixth; sophomore Leah Jessen of Canby/Minneota/Lincoln HI, seventh; sophomore Clare Flanagan of The Blake School, eighth; and sophomore Emi Trost of Cannon Falls, 10th. Flanagan was No. 1 in the final rankings from the state coaches association, followed by Shady at No. 3, Danielson at No. 4, Trost at No. 5, and Woltz at No. 8.

Class AA Boys Highlights

Eight of last year’s 16 teams will be back, including the runners-up from Moorhead. The Spuds have five runners with previous state meet experience. Other teams returning from last year’s meet are Owatonna, Rosemount, Burnsville, Stillwater Area, Edina, Andover, and Forest Lake. The other teams in the field are Rochester Mayo, Chanhassen, Marshall, White Bear Lake Area, Centennial of Circle Pines, Mounds View, Eden Prairie, and Willmar.

The final rankings from the state coaches association for the qualified teams are: 1. Stillwater Area; 2. Rosemount; 3. Edina; 5. Eden Prairie; 6. Andover; 8. Moorhead; 10. Burnsville; 11. White Bear Lake Area; and 12. Owatonna.

In the individual competition, senior Cole O’Brien of Burnsville is the highest returning qualifier. He is looking to improve on last year’s runner-up showing. O’Brien will likely face his toughest competition from senior Mubarik Musa of Worthington. Musa won the Class A crown in 2009 and placed third in Class A in 2010. In addition to O’Brien and Musa, three other 2010 Top 10 finishers also return: senior Josh Thorson of Wayzata, sixth; senior Jensen Orlow of Holy Family Catholic of Victoria, seventh in Class A; and senior Joel Reichow of White Bear Lake Area, ninth. Thorson was the top competitor in the final coaches poll. O’Brien was No. 2 and Musa came in at No. 8.

Class AA Girls Highlights

Monticello, which placed second in 2010, is this year’s highest returning qualifier. The Magic have eight runners with previous state meet experience. Ten additional teams also return from last year’s field: Lakeville South, Lakeville North, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Prior Lake, Roseville Area, East Ridge of Woodbury, Wayzata, Forest Lake, and Andover.

Teams from Eagan, St. Michael-Albertville, Totino-Grace of Fridley, Edina, and Alexandria round out this year’s Class AA field.

The final rankings from the state coaches association for the qualified teams are: 1. Monticello; 2. Lakeville South; 3. Eagan; 4. East Ridge; 5. Shakopee; 7. Wayzata; 8. Edina; 10. Andover; and 12. Prior Lake.

The two-time defending champion, junior Maria Hauger of Shakopee, leads the field of five returning Top 10 finishers. The others are: Alexandria senior Jamie Piepenburg, runner-up; Andover junior Nicole Heitzman, fourth; Monticello senior Erica Seidenkranz, fifth; and Monticello sophomore Amber Seidenkranz, sixth. Hauger was ranked No. 1 in the final coaches poll, followed by Piepenburg at No. 2, Erica Seidenkranz at No. 10, and Heitzman at No. 12.

The Schedule

The Class AA girls’ race will start at 10 a.m., followed by the Class AA boys’ race at 11 a.m. The Class A girls’ race will start at 1 p.m., followed by the Class A boys’ race at 2 p.m. A combined awards ceremony will take place approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the boys’ race in each class.

State Meet Parking

Spectator parking is available at four remote parking lots at the southeast end of the St. Olaf campus. Large red signs will direct spectators to these lots. Shuttle service to and from campus will be provided from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The pick-up and drop-off points will be posted with large red “Bus Stop” signs. Vehicles displaying handicapped parking passes will be allowed to park near the race course at Skoglund Athletic Center.

School teams, meet officials, and media will also be allowed to park on the campus near the race course at Skoglund Athletic Center.

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Meet results will be posted on the League’s website. The League’s website address is www.MSHSL.org.