Over A Dozen Meets Make Up Massive Day Of Racing

2018 Minnesota XC Meet Previews
Milesplit MN Staff

PREVIEW

Yellow Medicine East Invite

Location: Granite Falls Golf Course, Granite Falls

Weather: Low 60s, cloudy, with possible mild wind

BOYS

Virtual Meet Projection: Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd (29), Canby/Minneota (83), BOLD (122)

Top Individuals: Mikey Kvaal (LQPV-DB, 16:29), Ezekiel Sather (LQPV-DB, 16:39), Mitchell Buerkle (Springfield/Cedar Mountain, 17:10), Rory Schackelford (Ortonville, 17:29), Jalyn Ufkin (Canby, 17:34)

The Skinny: This race should be dominated by Class A 4th-ranked team Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd, as the virtual meets projects them to win by 54 points over Canby/Minneota. They also have the top two contenders for the individual title, and the only two athletes to have gone sub-17, in junior Mikey Kvaal and sophomore Ezekiel Sather. Behind them, junior Mitchell Buerkle of Springfield/Cedar Mountain is in the hunt to run under 17 minutes as he has already improved his 5K PR by 4 seconds this season. Additionally, at this point in the fall, on a blazing fast course, this would be an excellent chance for Buerkle, along with the rest of the field, to drop some massive amounts of time. In particular, Jalyn Ufkin of Canby/Minneota has also run a PR this season-by nearly a minute from his best time last year! In the team battle, behind LQPV/DB and Canby/Minneota, BOLD looks ready to sneak into third place in front of Lakeview and Springfield/Cedar Mountain.

GIRLS

Virtual Meet Projection: Canby/Minneota (35), Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd (35), Springfield/Cedar Mountain (102)

Top Individuals: Grace Drietz (Canby/Minneota, 18:32), Isabel Schirm (LQPV/DB, 19:29), Grace Hegland (LQPV/DB, 20:13), Mckenzie Ruether (Canby/Minneota, 20:19), Clarissa Vanderwal (Ortonville, 20:36)

The Skinny: On the girls side, Class A's 12th-ranked Grace Drietz of Canby/Minneota has by far the quickest time in the field, coming in with a PR of 18:32. Barring any major mishaps, she should be a lock to take the win. Behind her, Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd's Isabel Schirm is the only other girl who's broken 20 minutes, and should finish comfortably in second place. The top ten spots seem like they will be dominated by Canby/Minneota and Class A 12th-ranked LQPV/DB, although the Vanderwal sisters from Ortonville (Senior Clarissa and 8th-grader Hannah, who comes in with a 21:13) should also score top finishes. The real race will be for the team title, between Canby and Lac qui Parle Valley, who finish in a dead heat in the virtual meet, with 35 points. With the sixth runner as tie-breaker, LQPV/DB comes out ahead as their sixth runner has the 17th-fastest time, while Canby/Minneota's tie-breaker falls 18th. However, with the scores so close Canby has a shot at the title, and a win against a ranked team could move them up onto the rankings in the next Coaches Poll.

(written by Maddy Lawler)

TODAY'S MEETS