For the majority of athletes across the state this week will mark their final MSHSL competition of the season, but for 64 squads and 704 runners, it will punch their ticket to extend their season one more week onto the grounds of St. Olaf College in Northfield. Many of those athletes feel confident and secure with where they stand, but others are far less certain of what the next few days have in store for them.
Today will feature two of those sixteen competitions (tomorrow will feature 13 more, while Section 8A takes place on Friday), and by either design or coincidence, those two competitions may just be the deepest most elite sections in the state. Eight of the top nine Class AA boys teams, the four top Class AA girls teams, and a grand total of 38 teams and individuals who are either ranked or an honorable mention in the Coaches Poll will be competing today. It will be a joyful day for many, bittersweet for some, and perhaps heartbreaking for a few, but it will certainly be memorable for all.
So without further ado, let us kick off Section Competition with our previews of Sections 4AA and 6AA!