Weather: 50, partly cloudy
BOYS
Virtual Meet Projections: Ely (33), International Falls (44), Esko (65)
Top Individuals: Cameron Stocke (Virginia, 16:20), Luke Olson (Ely, 16:20), James Schwinghamer (Ely, 16:57), Sam Rengo (Esko, 17:07), Jake Erickson (IF, 17:10), Hunter Wilson (IF, 17:30)
The Skinny: Led by the 7th-ranked individual Luke Olson, Ely hold the upper hand over International Falls in the virtual meet. But it may not be that straightforward for the Timberwolves, as their number-two runner James Schwinghamer (the seventh-place finisher at the State Track Meet last spring in the 3200m) has not competed since their first race on August 30th. If he does not run, the advantage swings into the favor of the Broncos, led by Jake Erickson and Hunter Wilson. Those two athletes, plus Esko's Sam Rengo (and Schwinghamer, if he runs) will probably be battling for third place, however, as the biggest thing to be watching her is the battle between Olson and Virgina's 8th-grade phenom Cameron Stocke. Olson has already faced Stocke two times this year, and narrowly beaten him both times (though interestingly, in both those races, both runners also lost to Geno Uhrbom). Stocke, ranked 8th in Class A, will try to make the third time the charm.
GIRLS
Virtual Meet Projections: International Falls (38), Virginia (66), Ely (69)
Top Individuals: Ryan Ford (IF, 19:46), Natalie Fultz (Eveleth-Gilbert, 20:01), Avery Sivonen (IF, 20:31), Zoe Devine (Ely, 20:59)
The Skinny: With three of the top five runners in the field, and five of the top 15, International Falls has a fairly comfortable advantage over Virginia and Ely as the favorite to win this race. Led by Ryan Ford, the only runner to break 20 minutes this season, the Broncos have only lost of one of the other attending teams once this year, at the Eveleth Lions Invite where they finished 12 points behind Virginia while missing three of their top five runners. Ford herself has been having a strong season and been in the top eight for all her races. However, in her most recent race in Hibbing, Ford finished ten seconds behind the athlete with the second-fastest season-best in the field, Natalie Fultz of Eveleth-Gilbert (who is also an All-State hurdler). Those two runners will likley have a great battle for the win.
(written by Mark Rice)