PREVIEW
Jefferson Jaguar Challenge
Location: Hyland Greens Golf Course, Bloomington
Weather: Low 50s, wet, with a 50% chance of rain
BOYS
Virtual Meet Projection: Chanhassen (76), Owatonna (141), Nova Classical Academy (143)
Top Individuals: Nicholas Scheller (Chanhassen, 15:20), Torin Christianson (Chanhassen, 15:49), Lloyd Young (Kennedy, 16:13), Colden Longley (Jefferson, 16:21), John Starkey (Chaska, 16:24), Caedon Mccartney (Owatonna, 16:25), Drew Hastings (Belle Plaine, 16:30), Zach Long (Chanhassen, 16:39), Max Gifford (16:53)
The Skinny: Chanhassen's 7th-ranked Nick Scheller looks like he will be running solo to take the win on this course. His lifetime best gaps the field by nearly 30 seconds. However, if anyone's going to be hot on his trail it is Lloyd Young of Kennedy, who has already PRed by opening his season 20 seconds faster than last year and only improving from there. Torin Christianson has also been starting to heat up this year too, while Colden Longley and Drew Hastings have both had several great runs. And then, of course, there is Zach Long and Max Gifford, who are both running very well while coming off injuries from previous seasons. On the team side, the Scheller/Christianson/Long-led team from Chanhassen is projected to win by a wide margin, with Owatonna sitting in second. Nova Classical Academy looks prepared to edge out a third place finish after a rather eye-opening run at the Milaca Mega Meet.
GIRLS
Virtual Meet Projection: Rochester Century (83), Belle Plaine (98), Shakopee (105)
Top Individuals: Meghan Pierson (Chanhassen, 18:21), Helen Li (Rochester Century, 18:36), Miranda Gilbertson (Chanhassen, 18:46), Delilah Baedke (Owatonna, 18:50), Jayda Becker (Shakopee, 19:06), Emilie Meyer (Totino-Grace, 19:07), Josephine Mosby (Saint Louis Park, 19:10)
The Skinny: With Edina's top ten girls out to run Griak on Saturday, that leaves the team and individual titles open. Poised to take the win based on times from 2018 is Saint Louis Park's freshman Josie Mosby, who owns a 5:09 in the 1600 and an 11:02 in the 3200. Hot on her heels, though, will be sophomore Megan Pierson from Chanhassen, who has the fastest 5K PR of any girl in the field with last year's 18:21. It will also be interesting to watch Emilie Meyer, who opened her season with a 19:17 win at the Orono Twilight Invitational, as well as Jayda Becker, who has been running very well in races with tough conditions. One other name to watch is Rochester Century's Helen Li, who's time this year haven't been what they were in the past, but could break out at any moment. As the times stand, it could be a close race. If it comes down to the finish, however, Mosby has the speed to pull ahead. Teamwise, Shakopee and Belle Plaine are only seven points apart in the virtual meet, but Century is the defending meet champion and come in with the top marks in the virtual meet.