Class AA Girls
The fiercest team competition that will occur next Saturday will probably be between the girls from Edina and Willmar. Both teams are currently ranked in the nation's top ten after representing the Heartland Region at Nike Cross Nationals last year. And it is difficult to say which team has been more dominant this year. At sections, US#8 Edina scored 27 points with a 39-second spread against four other ranked teams in 6AA, while US#7 Willmar scored 21 points with a 34-second spread in 8AA. Willmar returns all seven athletes from last year's third-place finish, led by the trio of seniors Jessa Hanson, Sophie Schmitz, and Kayla Rudie. They have not scored more than 56 points in any meet this season. Edina not only didn't graduate anyone from last year's state championship team, but in fact added former Breck standout Morgan Richter, who was the Class A girls runner-up in last year's state meet as an eighth grader. All seven scoring runners have run under 19 minutes this season, and the only race they scored more than 38 points was at Griak when they won with 97 points over 48 other teams.
However, one team of girls that cannot be discounted is Marshall. Last year they gave Edina a significant challenge in the team competition, only being defeated by 8 points. They return their top runner, senior Claire Boersma (who was third individually last year), as well as four others from their runner up team. Twice this year, including their conference meet, they have scored a perfect 15 points. Also looking to play spoiler are the girls from Minnetonka, who return to the State Meet for the first time since 2009. Senior Sophie Wicher leads the team that overcame tough Wayzata, Eden Prairie, and Washburn teams at their section meet. Tess Misgen's Shakopee and Regan Duffy's Forest Lake will try to make strong moves to the podium as well.
Photo by Lance Elliott