Chris Beach graduated from Totino-Grace High School in 1998 without reaching the True Team track and field state meet. Beach, a decathlete in college, took over the Eagles' boys' and girls' programs nine years ago and helped make track and field dreams a reality for a new generation. The girls have won four consecutive Class 2A True Team state meet titles. The boys won in 2006, 2009 and 2011. Photo:  Totino-Grace’s Michael Frisbie finished first in his heat of the 100-meter hurdles at the True Team Class 2A, Section 5 meet last week. The state meet is Friday and Saturday. Photo by MARLIN LEVISON • mlevison@startribune.com (via )

Senior Derek Toso won three events and took a close second in another, scoring 71 of the Little Falls boys track and field team’s 456 points at Tuesday’s Section 8AA true team meet.  (via )

Pine Island senior gets support to throw shot and discus - The Post-Bulletin is Rochester and South East, Minnesota's number one local news, sports, weather, entertainment and business source. (via )

Nine Chanhassen High School records were broken at the Section 7AAA True Team Track and Field Meet Wednesday at Eden Prairie. The Storm, going up against the entire Lake Conference, finished fifth in the boys standings and sixth in the girls race. (via )

Finishing with 1,037 points, the Andover Huskies boys’ track and field team took home the top team trophy for the section 4AAA True Team track and field meet May 8 at Elk River High School. (via )

Entering the 2012 season, there wasn’t one Detroit Lakes’ girl trackster who knew what it was to compete in the State True Team meet, something which was a common feeling amongst the Laker squads of over a half a decade ago. That will now soon change. (via )

  Elks discus and shot put leader Molli Detloff (red and black) entered the 100 dash for this meet and placed 10th among 27. Here she runs alongside Anoka's Stephanie Nielsen, Park Center's Monika Agbonkhese, and Rogers' Katherine Biah. (Photo by Bruce Strand) (via )

A look at top college performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

The Holy Family Fire track and field teams tasted weather of all kinds and were in good company as they traveled to St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights on May 4 to do battle in an annual affair that has become known simply as the Catholic School Championships. (via )

LUVERNE — Utilizing their superior depth, the Luverne Cardinals were able to win both team titles Monday at the annual Section 3A True Team track and field meet at Cardinal Field. (via )

It’s a big week for the track-and-field world with true-team sectionals all over the place.The Times’ area has five sectionals in which local teams run. All are pursuing berths to the state true-team championships May 18-19 at Stillwater.  (via www.sctimes.com)

  SAUK RAPIDS — The long-distance runner from the smallest school at the Mega Meet had one of its biggest days on a wet, cool Saturday at Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School.

Almost a year ago, Andover tied for 13th place at the state boys’ track and field meet, but most of the Huskies’ points came from one athlete. (via )

A look at top college performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

                              The Hamline Elite meet brings the best student-athletes in every event for one evening each year.   Little did the spectators realize that they witnessed back to back races of national elite quality.  

ST. PAUL - Brainerd's Jackson Walters tied the Warriors school record in the 110-meter hurdles with a winning time of 14.74 Friday at the Hamline Elite Meet. (via )

ST. PAUL — A nasty backwind didn’t stop Jenna Truedson from setting a new Bemidji High School record Friday night. But it just might have cost her first place. (via )

Hopkins senior Austin Salargo admitted he charged through the boys' 800-meter run at Friday's Hamline Elite Meet with more guts than guile (via )

April 25, 2012     The Golden Gopher women's track & field/cross country team is excited to announce its class of 2012 signees. Minnesota will add 15 student-athletes to its roster for next season. (via )

High school track and field records usually don’t fall in April because athletes try to peak near the end of the season, when most of the big meets are held. (via )

A chance meeting at a local YMCA brought Quinton Coleman and Dudley Edmondson together last fall.  (via )

FOLEY – The Foley boys track and field team took first place in the Foley Quadrangular on Tuesday.   (via www.sctimes.com )

BRAINERD – The Hamline Elite track and field meet is Friday and only the top nine athletes and relay teams in Minnesota will qualify for that competition. (via )

A look at top college performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

The Lakeville North Mega Meet again proved to be one of the top meets of the high school season with 24 National Milesplit Elite performances, showcased in front of an announced crowd of 1,500.  The Lakeville North Mega Meet is known for treating student-athletes well and this year they added the large professional scoreboard showing the results of all races immediately after completion.  Add the race announcer who does a fantastic job of introducing all competitors and calling the race and you have the feel of a national elite meet with a Minnesota flavor!

A look at top college performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

Competing in rain, wind and cold didn't stop Minnetonka from winning both the boys and girls team championship at the 10-squad Lake Conference Relays Friday at the University of Minnesota. (via Chanhassen Villager)

With temperatures in the low 30s and the wind chill hovering into the low 20s, Aaron Peterson was quick to admit Monday afternoon’s track and field captains’ practice was a record-setting day at Bromberg Field. (via www.pinejournal.com)

The Marshall boys and girls track teams faced stiff competition Thursday and Willmar, and several athletes used the challenge to acheive personal bests on the track and in the field events. (via www.marshallindependent.com)

A look at top college performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

The 2011 season was a banner year for the Park boys track and field team. But, the Wolfpack is hoping 2012 is even better. (via www.swcbulletin.com)

MINNEAPOLIS Clare Flanagan of The Blake School set a new record at the Indoor High School Track Championships last Saturday at the University of Minnesota.  (via kare11.com)

A look at top college performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.  

  What Haylie Zenner has already accomplished would satisfy most. She’s a three-time Minnesota state track champion in the 800 meters. (via www.inforum.com)

  WORTHINGTON — Having three full weeks of outdoor practice under their belts, more than 60 Worthington High School track and field athletes will be loading a pair of buses this afternoon and traveling to Mankato for the running of an annual indoor meet at the first-class facility on the campus of Minnesota State University. (via www.dglobe.com)

Recap of Granite Ridge Conference and Central Lakes Conferece indoor meets. (via www.sctimes.com)

A look at top college performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

A look at top college performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

A look at top college performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

A report of the top collegiate performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

A report of the top collegiate performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

Leapin’ Leonard still is living the dream. One of the most successful track athletes in history, Leonard Jones is the all-time Division III men’s leader with seven NCAA indoor track national titles, including at least one championship in each of his four years of competition with St. Thomas (Minn.).  (via www.ncaa.com)

Connor Doppler of Ramsey, Minn., has signed with the Jamestown College track and cross country teams. (via www.jamestownsun.com)

A report of the top collegiate performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

  Joining the men's squad, headed up by veteran coach Joe Piane, is Minnesota 2A 800-meter state champion Eric Gebeke and New Jersey cross country state champion Timothy Ball.

We haven't played one-on-one basketball against each other in a while," says Mark Derrick, a senior at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Ill. "I used to lose to him all the time just because he was bigger than me, but now that I've grown, it should be a pretty even game." (via Running Times)

A report of the top collegiate performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

  Two of Park’s fastest athletes will be running in different colors next fall. (via www.swcbulletin.com)

St. James High School senior Cheyanne Bowers has signed a national letter of intent to run cross country for the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits. (via http://www.stjamesnews.com)

A report of the top collegiate performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

First on Greta Danielson’s collegiate bucket list was a good engineering school. Next was a great team atmosphere in the cross country and track and field programs.  (via St. Cloud TIMES)

For Jensen Orlow, it was two years ago that the Holy Family Catholic runner decided that his cross country and track careers wouldn't end after the competition of high school seasons.  (via scoreboardmn.ourvarsity.com)

  Cardinal senior Jamie Piepenburg will run track and cross country for the Golden Gophers. (via www.echopress.com)

Erica Seidenkranz (Monticello) has committed to the University of Minnesota - Duluth and will compete in cross-country, indoor and outdoor track as a "bulldog".  Erica has had a wonderful high school running career with many athletic success, but she is also very successful in the classroom and is currently ranked #1 in her class with a 4.0 gpa.  Because of this combination, she was very fortunate to have been recruited by many top athletic and academic schools across the country, and narrowing it down to a manageable number was difficult.  

Brandon Clark (The Blake School) signs with Penn after considering the University of Minnesota, Purdue University, Iona College, and Villanova University.

A report of the top collegiate performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

WAYZATA HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUT NAMED GATORADE MINNESOTA BOYS CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR CHICAGO (January 23, 2012) — In its 27th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPNHS, today announced Josh Thorson of Wayzata HS as its 2011-12 Gatorade Minnesota Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year. Thorson is the first Gatorade Minnesota Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year to be chosen from Wayzata HS.

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. – Haylie Zenner has made a habit of having success in the Twin Cities. So why stop now? Zenner, the Fergus Falls track and field star, put herself in position to have more success by committing to the University of Minnesota for next year. (via www.inforum.com)

A report of collegiate performances around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

High School Track and Field Rules Changes Focus on Jewelry Violations and Pole Vault Requirements   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                        Contact: Becky Oakes INDIANAPOLIS, IN (January 20, 2012) —  In its June 8-10 meeting in Indianapolis, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Track and Field and Cross Country Rules Committee addressed the jewelry rule and clarified two rules in the pole vault among its nine major changes. All changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

A report of the top collegiate performances around the country by former Minnesota high school althetes.

CHICAGO (January 12, 2012) — In its 27th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN HS, today announced Maria Hauger of Shakopee High School as its 2011-12 Gatorade Minnesota Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.  Hauger is the first Gatorade Minnesota Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year to be chosen from Shakopee High School.

Maria Hauger, Shakopee High School junior, has been named 2011-2012 Minnesota Girls Cross County Runner of the year by Gatorade in collaboration with ESPN HS.  (via Shakopee Patch' property='og:site_name)

Kingsland graduate Chris Erichsen will be running with the best marathon runners in the United States Saturday in Houston, Texas, when he participates in the Olympic Marathon Trials. (via bluffcountrynews.com)

A report of the top collegiate performance around the country by former Minnesota high school athletes.

      PORTLAND, Ore. - The Stillwater Running Club placed 10th on Saturday at the Nike Cross Nationals race at Portland Meadows.    

To her parents, friends, and teachers in Shakopee, Maria Hauger is called Bug. It's been like that since the day she was born. (via FS North)

To say the least, NXN did not go as planned. The race went out hard, as usual, and in this respect I wasn't surprised at all.  I planned on pushing the first 400-800 to get good position.  I think I regret it.

Greetings from Portland and Nike Nationals!

The Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) brings together the best teams in the country and pits them against each other on the most unique course available.  Portland Meadows will once again play host to the championship battle and the manufactured course that traverses the interior of a horse racing track will have all the traditional features of European style cross country racing; including plenty of mud.

Twenty-two of the nations' top teams and forty-five of the best individuals will make the trek to Portland, Oregon for Nike Cross Nationals. The teams are comprised of two winners from nine different regions and four “At-Large” berths, decided on by a team of Nike consultants. 

Hello Internet: Well, after missing Footlocker, I'm back on my feet.  Training is feeling good and I don't think my illness should affect my race too much.  Fingers crossed!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and break.

Greetings from Bemidji!

While the rain held off for most of the day, there was a mist in the air but, with temperatures in the low 50s, it was a comfortable day for racing and spectating.

Covering the Midwest Regional for the Foot Locker Championships, MileSplit compiled the following PHOTOS: Boys Seeded Race Boys Seeded - Top 10 Finishers Girls Seeded Race Girls Seeded - Top 10 Finishers Boys Freshman / Sophomore Race Girls Freshman / Sophomore Race

MileSplit's continuing coverage of the Foot Locker Midwest Regionals at UW-Parkside in Kenosha, WI. Click here to view the VIDEO COVERAGE of both the BOYS Seeded Race. Click here to view the VIDEO COVERAGE of the GIRLS Seeded Race.   Top 10 Interview Coverage of the following runners: Boys 1. Futsum Zeinasellassie - 14:58 3. Michael Clevenger - 15:11 5. Tony Smoragiewicz - 15:15 Girls 1. Molly Seidel - 17:08 2. Julia Bos - 17:14 (part 1 and part 2) 6. Sydney Scott - 17:43 7. Nicole Mello - 17:43

Hello everyone! My name is Jenna Truedson.  As a freshman I run cross country at Bemidji High School.

  And just like that, a door closes.

Hey everyone, I’m Brandon and I’m a senior at The Blake School. This has been a fun Championship season for us as a team, although both our teams just missed the podium at State with fourth place finishes (our team goal was to win State).  Both teams should return to State next year, along with my teammate Clare Flanagan who will be defending her individual title.  

Hello everyone! Our names are Erica and Amber Seidenkranz.  We run cross country at Monticello High School.  Erica is a Senior and Amber is a sophomore.

Hey everyone, I'm Josh Thorson, a senior at Wayzata High School.  Wayzata is one of the bigger schools in Minnesota with around 3400 students and our cross country team has around 150 high school boys.  We've qualified for NXN for four years (2007-2010) so this is the first year since they started having regional qualifying meets that we haven't made it.

Minnesota had a very good showing at the Heartland Regional race for Nike Cross Nationals. You can follow several athletes as they prepare for their race, and take part in the experience that is Nike Cross Nationals.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Just eight days after capturing the Class AA state championship, members of the Stillwater boys' cross country team put on a more dominating performance in front of a wider audience to win Sunday's Nike Cross Heartland Regional at Yankton Trail Park.

For the second straight year, Tony Smoragiewicz proved that he's not just the best high school cross country runner in the state, but the best in the Midwest. (via The Argus Leader)

Click on the “Nike Cross National Qualifiers, from Heartland Regional” title for more.    

Futsum Zeinasellassie is in at NXN, now to qualify at Foot Locker before beginning the quest to win both titles. (Photo by Paul Everett)

  In a battle between the two best runners in the state, the Card senior proved up to the challenge (via www.echopress.com)

    The Nike Cross Heartland Regionals, Sioux Falls, SD, Sunday November 13 (http://www.runnerspace.com/nxnhl) brings together the top high school teams and individuals from Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin as a qualifier for the Nike Cross Nationals Championships, Portland, Oregon, Saturday December 3.   Only the top two teams and five individuals (not on those teams) from this Heartland Regionals (among eight regionals nationally) advance to Nationals.  This article is an attempt to highlight the top teams and individuals from each state, and then suggest most likely national qualifiers.   (By state high school federation rules, high school teams and individuals can not officially participate in post-high school season competitions representing their schools.  Therefore, high school teams will technically be representing “clubs” (e.g., Tiger XC club) and individuals competing “unattached” in the regional and national NXN meets; but we’ll identify these clubs/individuals by the associated high schools.)

  NORTHFIELD — Paced by a pair of strong lead-run performances from five-time veterans Austyn Thier and Megan Sauer, the Adrian Dragons finished seventh Saturday afternoon in the team standings of the girls’ Class A state high school cross country meet at St. Olaf College. (via www.dglobe.com)

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Stillwater boys cross country coach Scott Christensen admits that going out for his team isn't for just any runner. (via TwinCities.com)

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - There was a moment of doubt in Shakopee junior Maria Haugers mind Saturday morning. (via TwinCities.com)

Macon, Trost are runners-up at state cross country - The Post-Bulletin is Rochester and South East, Minnesota's number one local news, sports, weather, entertainment and business source. (via PostBulletin.com)

By John George | www.lakesareasports.com - Northfield, MN   The Perham girls finished 10th at the Class A State Cross Country Meet. (John George photo)   The Perham girls had 3 goals coming to the State Cross Country Meet at St. Olaf College in Northfield.  Place higher than last year (12th), finish higher than their ranking (No. 12), and beat the Section 8A champs, Park Rapids.  They did all three. The Lady Jackets finished in 10th place Saturday with a score of 227.  The team they finished behind at the Section 8A Meet, Park Rapids, finished in a tie for 11th (247).

By John George | www.lakesareasports.com - Northfield, MN   The Perham boys finished 2nd at the Class A State Cross Country Meet. (John George photo)   For the 5th time in school history, the Perham boys cross country team finished in 2nd place at the Class A State Cross Country Meet in Northfield at St. Olaf College. Perham finished with 73 points, just one-point behind St. Cloud Cathedral for the State title.  

                      (Photo courtesy of Kimm Anderson) Cathedral gets nod vs. Perham in a tight meet (via St. Cloud TIMES)