Shakopee's Tess Misgen is on the comeback trail after missing last track season with an injury, but a 4th-place finish at the XC State Meet last fall is a good indication that she is even stronger than ever.
Wayzata Senior Gemechu Meskele didn't move to the US from Ethiopia until five years ago, and didn't start running until he moved to the US. But it didn't take long for him to emerge as an All-State athlete.
Molly Roach of Bloomington Jefferson is one of Minnesota's top returning 800 meter runners, and a key part of their great relay teams, but nevertheless struggles with disposing old uneaten pre-meet snacks.
Edina junior Emily Kompelien made history with her teammates last spring as they became the first Minnesota high school ever to break 9 minutes in the girls 4x800, one of many stellar accomplishments.
Anastasia Korzenowski has been making high school running fans trip over her name for six years now, and coming off a career-best third-place finish in last fall's XC championships, she still has a lot left.
Alex Spillum certainly made a lot of noise as Chanhassen's star quarterback last fall, but he is equally skilled at leaping into sand pits, and he figures to make a lot of noise doing that this spring as well.
East Ridge junior Allyson Weiss has been dominating the triple jump ever since she was in 8th grade, and as the defending Class AA champion, she dreams to leave her name in the state record books.
Belle Plaine senior Selin Dikman is adding a new event to her already-impressive repertoire, and could make as much impact in the 200 meters as she did as the reining Class A 100 hurdles runner-up.
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Emma Gilbert of International Falls is not only one of Minnesota's top returning throwers for the 2017 season, but she also has high aspirations to help her relay teams return to State as well.
Bloomington Jefferson Senior Alyssa Lind may not (yet) have run any open events at State, but has been an integral member of very successful relays for her team.
Saint Francis senior Genuine Matthews knows the power of setting goals, and has many ambitious ones for himself in 2017 that may include a trip into the record books.
Senior Zac Miller has enjoyed the opportunity not only to run with perennial powerhouse Edina High School, but also with the prestigious team from Chaska High School as well.
Some might know North Branch senior Rhianna Rinke due to her many State Championships and Elite Meet appearances, but did you also know that she was named after a song?
John Schwinghamer is the third of Mora's talented senior trio in our interview series, and he is looking to make up for some disappointments in past seasons with a strong final year of high school track.
Coming off an individual Class AA championship in cross country last fall, Edina senior Patrick Roos has very ambitious goals to cap off his high school career this spring, and doubt only serves to fuel him more.
Michael Mitchell of The Blake School is a six-time qualifier for the State XC championships, and a two-time top-ten finisher, but must first must get fully healthy to finish his high school career strong.
As one-third of the finest hurdling trio of any team in the State, Edina senior Abdihafid Sahal is not only battling for an individual state championship, but also possession of a school record in that event.
Matthew Van Eps had already established himself as an All-State sprinter, but last fall also showed off his distance skills by finishing 11th in the Class A Cross Country Championships as a senior rookie.
Elk River senior Christopher Udalla returns as possibly Minnsota's best all-around jumper, in addition to a talented sprinter, but did you also know he is a self-taught gymnast?
Jessa Hanson served as one of Willmar's three-headed senior monster that helped carry Willmar to national success last fall, and hopes her running career still has a ways to go.
St. Francis senior Amanda Anderson had some of the biggest shoes to fill after being the self-picked successor to Maggie Ewen, but has filled them very well by becoming a champion thrower herself.
Molly Reighard has served as the anchor for two champion relays from Waconia and has a lot of individual success as well, being one of Minnesota's top returners in four events.
While an injury set her back during cross country last fall, Spring Lake Park's Riley Mcginnity is ready to return strong in track as the defending Section 5AA champion in both the 1600 and 3200.
She is the fastest female 400 runner in Minnesota high school history, and the two-time defending Class AA champion, and Honour Finley still has one more season to add to her legacy.
Anna Donnay from Eden Valley-Watkins finished her High School cross country career on a high note with an career-best race at the NXN Regional last fall (Photo from Images by Marguerite)
Staples-Motley's Millie Klefsaas won a rare double in the 100 hurdles and pole vault at the 2016 State Meet, including setting the Class A record with a 12-foot vault. She hopes more records fall in 2017.
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While the Hasz sisters may have graduated last spring, thanks to Mora's Michael Schwinghamer and his brother John, there is still one set of cross country champion twins in the MSHSL.
