Today at 10:00 AM, 15 teams will be competing at the Monticello Invitational at Bertram Regional Park. Now that these teams are getting into racing shape, since most of them already have a couple races under their belt, we'll start to have a good idea of who the standout performers are. As teams get more, and more into racing shape, times are going to continue to keep dropping. Another thing that will contribute to time drops is the weather getting cooler (today it will be low 60s and sunny at racetime), as athletes won't have to worry about fighting the brutal heat that they had to deal with at times in the summer.
Race Schedule:
10:00 7-8 Gr. Boys 2600 M Ribbons 1-20
10:15 7-8 Gr. Girls 2600 M Ribbons 1-20
10:35 JV Boys 5000 M Medals 1- 15
11:00 JV Girls 5000 M Medals 1- 15
11:35 Varsity Boys (7) 5000 M Trophies 1st & 2nd Team
12:00 Varsity Girls (7) 5000 M Medals 1-20
In the boys race, Sartell-Saint Stephen teammates Ryan Fernholz, and Alex Nemeth both have 5k times under 16 minutes from 2016, so they are instant contenders for the individual title. However, Buffalo's Isaac Basten has already ran and won three races this season, including 16:08 just two days ago at the Bauman/Rovn Invitational (although that does beg the question of whether or not he will run, or at least run all out, on two days rest). Also, keep an eye out for St. Michael Albertville's Jonah Breuer, who still holds a very respectable 16:23 PR, and Hutchinson's Mitchell Grand, who has been a star on his team since running sub-20 minutes in 6th grade for his middle school squad. Another key individual who we expect to be ear the front is Christopher Groth of Annandale's seventh-ranked Class A team. And finally, don't count out Nick Juntenen, as he shocked the state at the Class AA True Team State Meet, taking 1st with a time of 9:37 in the 3200m.
