PREVIEW
Location: Bois de Sioux Golf Course, Wahpeton, ND
Weather: 70, partly cloudy, quite humid
BOYS
Virtual Meet Projections: Fargo North (38), West Fargo (53), Shanley (78), West Central Area (84)
Top Individuals: Alex Luz (Fargo North, 15:33), Jacob Bright (WCA, 16:10), Hunter Gowin (Breckenridge/Wahpeton, 16:15), Zach Haire (Breckenridge/Wahpeton, 16:25), Caleb Yokom (Fargo North, 16:25)
The Skinny: Split about 50-50 between Minnesota schools and the Dakotas (which is fitting as the host team is a co-op between Minnesota's Breckenridge High School and North Dakota's Wahpeton High School), it is the three schools from Fargo that are the biggest favorites on the team side. Fargo North is a regular powerhouse in North Dakota, and 38 projected points combined with five athletes under 17:21 will be tough for this field to beat. Class A #4-ranked West Central Area (just two days after another meet) is the top-projected Minnesota team, and there is a lot to take away from their season debut, but good (four runners under 17:44), and bad (their #5 runner was nearly two minute further behind, allowing #6 LQPV to beat them). We'll see how they can perform with such a short turnaround. Meanwhile, Fargo North's Alex Luz will almost certainly take the win as he is one of the very best either Dakota has to offer (he was 3rd at the ND state Championshps last year), but Jacob Bright is coming off his strongest season debut yet and could potentially give him a challenge. Zach Haire also looked good in his first race, while his teammate Hunter Gowin is working his way back from a significant injury which forced him to miss track last spring.
GIRLS
Virtual Meet Projection: West Fargo (25), Fargo North (73), West Central Area (86), Shanley (103)
Top Individuals: Abby Smith (West Fargo, 19:01), Anna Lien (Fargo North, 19:12), Hope Pringle (West Fargo, 19:12), Clare Boldingh (West Fargo, 19:18), Lexi Bright (WCA, 19:21), Lily Peterson (Lake Park-Audubon, 19:28)
The Skinny: The same four teams take the top spots in the girls race as with the boys, but in a slightly different order. This time, it is West Fargo that appears the strong favorite, as all six of their top runners return with times between 19:01 and 19:35 (though, it ought to be noted that most of those times were run on the same course mid-season last year). Class A #10-ranked West Central Area does make a strong third-place showing, but they will not be challenging West Fargo, who finished 6th at the North Dakota State Championships last year. Of course, with it being their second meet in three days, and considering that Lexi Bright was a disappointing 9th in her season debut (down fro finishing 3rd at the same meet the previous year), WCA and Bright might have something to prove here just like the boys.