Minnesota Athletes To Watch
This year's Gary Wilson Gold Race features several top runners from around the region, setting the stage for some strong competition for our Minnesota female runners. This year's race will feature 5 Minnesota athletes who are ranked in the current Class AA coach's xc polls, 1 class A ranked team, and 5 Class AA ranked teams (including #1 Wayzata). Because Minnesota runs a 4k for girl's races, rather than the more popular 5k run in the majority of the states, it can create some challenges for our female runners as they try to pace their race to accommodate the additional distance. Here is a quick look at some Minnesota runners who look to be among the top finishers on Saturday:
- finished in 16th place in 2012 as a sophomore with a time of 19:19.20
- broke the 14:00 minute 4k mark early this year, running a 13:38 at the Hutchinson Invitational on September 12th
- also broke the 14:00 minute 4k mark in the 2012 state meet, running a 13:57 and placing 2nd behind phenom Maria Hauger; ran a 17:59 in the 2012 NXN Heartland race, taking 4th place; finished in 19th place at NXN Nationals
- Currenlty ranked #1 in the Class AA coach's xc polls
- Jenna finished in 6th place in 2012 with a time of 18:48.80
- most recently won the AAAA race at the Milaca Mega Meet on September 21st with a 14:00.00 time, setting a new course record
- finished in 5th in the 2012 state xc meet followed by a 7th place finish at NXN Heartland regionals with a time of 18:21.04
- currently ranked at #4 in the Class AA coach's xc polls
Bethany Kozak (White Bear Lake)
- won the maroon race in 2012 Griak meet with a time of 19:08
- most recently set a new season best 4k time of 14:07.2 at the Rum River Invitational held on September 12tj
- finished 8th in the 201 state xc meet wtih a time of 14:21.80, followed by a 22nd place finish at NXN Heartland Regionals with at time of 18:51.8
- currently ranked #3 in the Class AA coach's xc polls
- finished in 69th place in the 2012 gold race with a time of 20:34.00
- has a current season best 4k time of 14:26.70 from a win at the Lakeville Applejack Invitational held on September 13th, and most recently took 2nd place in the Wausau East Smiley Invite with a time of 14:48.29
- Placed 58th at the 2012 state xc meet, followed by a 67th place finish at the NXN Heartland Regionals. With a 2nd place team finish, she had the chance to run at NXN nationals last year as well.
- currently ranked at #10 in the Class AA coach's xc polls
- did not run in the 2012 Griak race but has 3 previous appearances with a high finish of 15th in both 2010 and 2011, and a Griak best time of 19:22.10
- has a current season best 4k time of 14:30.53 from the Mayo Invitational held on September 12th.
- placed 16th in the 2012 state xc meet and has an overall personal best 4k time of 14:18.50 from 2011
- currently ranked at #12 in the Class AA coach's xc polls
In the team competition, Wayzata and Eagan should both be top competitors. Wayzata, currently ranked #1 in the Class AA polls, finished in 4th at last year's Griak race. Eagan, currently ranked 3rd in the Class AA polls finished 3rd in last year's race - even with the loss of standout Danielle Anderson, they return a strong squad and will compete for a top spot.
Who Is Running From Minnesota
|
Team |
Class |
Coach's Poll Ranking |
Athletes (ranked runners in bold) |
| Bemidji | AA | 12 |
Athena Cloud, 11; Anna Gislason, 9; Arie Gislason, 9; Sadie Hamrin, 8; Ali Neubeck, 9; Morgan Sagedahl, 10; Megan Serratore, 11; Amber Smith, 11; Atomic Thorson, 10; Jenna Truedson, 11 |
| Breck School | A | -- |
Claire Drysdale, 12 |
| Burnsville | AA | -- |
Maedin Abegaz, 10; Mari Belina, 8; Katie Dennis, 12; Greta Donnelly, 9; Tori Felton, 12; Vivian Hett, 12; Krista Holmstrom, 9; Jane Koch, 11; Kelly Koch, 8; Johanna Weber, 10 |
| Coon Rapids | AA | -- |
Kaitlyn Benson, 11; Hannah Davis, 11; Rachel Davis, 9; Bryna Del Castillo, 9; Allyssa Hyde, 12; Lindsey Johnson, 11; Katie Klecker, 12; Michelle Onyekaba, 9; Susan Porter, 11; Elise Weimholt, 11 |
| Eagan | AA | 3 |
Kirsten Barrett, 12; Hayley Cleary, 11; Raissa Hansen, 12; Karina Johnson, 11; Katie Koprowski, 10; Danielle Marshall, 10; Olivia Mitchell, 10; Heidi Owens, 12; Kelli Praska, 11; Anna Van Wyk, 11 |
| Edina | AA | 4 |
Jessica Bentley, 12; Brynn Lia Braaten, 9; Bridgit Loeffelholz, 12; Hannah Martin, 11; Hannah Mitchell, 9; Amanda Mosborg, 9; Ellen O'Neill, 9; Shannon Spalding, 11; Logan Sweeney, 11; Tate Sweeney, 9 |
| Forest Lake | AA | -- |
Abigayle Asperheim, 9; Allison Bartlett, 9; Emma Benner, 10; Madison Clepper, 11; Amanda Fortili, 9; Jessica Overland, 7; Miranda Overland, 9; Jenna Parent, 8; Caroline Schoessow, 8; Maria Valentin, 9 |
| Grand Rapids | AA | -- |
Megan Allen, 12; Aspen Anderson, 12; Erin Baker, 12; Julianna French, 11; Kaitlin Garrison, 10; Autumn Huju, 11; Amy Jobe, 12, Jay-Lynn Lauer, 10; Maddi Peart, 10; Emma Stertz, 9 |
| Hopkins | AA | -- |
Annie Ahlquist, 9; Maria Bailey, 8; Naomi Borowsky, 12; Katie Craemer, 11; Hannah Gershone, 12; Anna Hall, 11; Isabell hall, 11; Elizabeth Klecker, 9; Margaret Stelzner, 12 |
| Mounds View | AA | 9 |
Carly Bandt, 12; Elle Conlin, 8; Sarah Dhols-Graf, 11; Grace Ebert, 10; Christine Hessini, 11; Riley McGinnity, 9; Natalie Nowatzke, 9; Erin Saemerow, 9; Hedi Samuelson, 11; Anna Solfest, 11 |
| Perham | A | 3 |
Brynnan Covington, 9; Lizzie Fudge, 12; Kayla Hodgden, 12; Alli Hoeft, 10; Racole Karels, 12; Syddney Karels, 10; Brooklyn Koetke, 9; Mary Riestenberg, 12; Emma Sweere, 12; Jenna Wegscheid, 10 |
| Rosemount | AA | -- |
Naomi Alvarez, 10; Briana Cleveland, 12; Liz Evenocheck, 11; Hannah Grim, 12; Sydney Hansen, 8; Natalie Narloch, 11; Faith Pyne, 11; Sydney Regalado, 8; Rachel Schow, 11; Alyssa Watkins, 11 |
| Shakopee | AA | -- |
Carri Anderson, 9; Maddy Baden, 10; Maggie Jakubiak, 11; Jen Keohen, 12; Madelyn Leier, 10; Tess Misgen, 9; Katie Mulcrone, 12; Maya Rachel, 7; Rachel Scalf, 9; Dana Stewart, 12 |
| Tartan | AA | -- |
Carolyn Barrera, 10; Carly Boyle, 11; Staci Ikeri, 11; Marcie Israelson, 12; Maren Iverson, 8; Erika Nolby, 10; Shaelyn Sorenson, 12; Kaiti Tiedeman, 9; Lily Wyland, 9 |
| Totino-Grace | AA | -- |
Mary Boston, 10; Michaela Brands, 10; Mary Favo, 10; Amy Gasperlin, 11; Hannah Hoekstra, 12; Mattie Louiselle, 10; Amber Matzoll, 11; Anne Meyer, 11; Natalie Rataczak, 12; Marie Sedesky, 12 |
| Wayzata | AA | 1 |
McKenna Evans, 12; Mary Franke, 12; Anna French, 11; Annika HalvErson, 12; Kristine Keller-Miller, 10; Mackenzie Keller-Miller, 12; Michaela Keller-Miller, 10; Annika Jerdall, 9; Alayna Sonnesyn, 12; Jaycie Thompsen, 9 |
| White Bear Lake | AA | -- |
Jenna Baker, 12; Mariea Bradbury, 12; Emily Brockberg, 7; Frannie Eggan, 11; Kaitlyn Galvin, 10; Jordan Gast, 7; Bethany Kozak, 12; Sophie Perron, 12; Allison Ternes, 12; Emily Zoborowski, 8 |
| Winona Cotter | A | -- |
Aubrey Allen, 9; Cora Arnold, 11; Leah Koll, 11; Hannah Kosel, 12; Brynn Spitzer, 11; Kelly Vaselaar, 11; Christine Young, 11 |