Gehl, Koller, And Teams With State Dreams Highlight Day

PREVIEW

Marshall Invite

Location: Independence Park, Marshall, MN

Weather: High 70s, high humidity

BOYS

Virtual Meet Projection: Waconia (47), Marshall (52), Worthington (63)

Top Individuals: Adam Koller (Worthington, 16:14), Zach Matzner (Marshall, 16:22), Quentin Blomme (Marshall, 16:59), Andrew Huber (Worthington, 17:01), Kalin Mcdonough (Waconia, 17:06)

The Skinny: Adam Koller from Worthington is on a winning streak this season and is currently undefeated.  Today's win will not come easy with Zach Matzner hot on his heels. Matzner is the defending champion of this meet and will not be giving up his title easily. Matzner and Koller are Big South Conference rivals and will both be gunning for the win this year at the championship meet. They both advanced to state last year out of section 2AA and finished within seven seconds of each other at the state meet. The team battle will also be a close race with Waconia and Marshall battling for the win.  Waconia won the meet last year defeating Marshall by 22 points. Waconia has a solid pack of five runners that will be hard to beat again but Marshall is bringing a team that will take on the challenge.

GIRLS

Virtual Meet Projection: Marshall (27), Waconia (45)

Top Individuals: Morgan Gehl (Murray County Central, 18:17), Kaleesa Houston (Waconia, 18:55), Kaia Sueker (Marshall, 19:00), Natalee Sample (Marshall, 19:07), Bellamy Sukalski (Marshall, 19:17)

The Skinny: On the team side, the team from Marshall is projected to put on a good show and take the win ahead of Waconia. Based on personal bests, Marshall has five runners ahead of Waconia's second runner.  This would be an impressive feat and help them to climb the ranks from being noted as an "honorable mention" team to potentially being in the top twelve. Morgan Gehl has started her season in a dominating fashion. She is currently undefeated and has been up against the tough competition of Tenley Nelson (ranked fifth) and Makenna Thurston (ranked sixth) to which she defeated them by 18 seconds. She has proved herself as a runner that should be ranked fourth in Class A. Gehl will be challenged by Kaleesa Houston, a Class AA runner who finished 26th at the state meet last year, only one spot out of the All-State honors. 

(written by Emma Benner)