Location: Battle Creek Park, Maplewood
Weather: Cloudy, around 40, decent wind
BOYS
Virtual Meet Projection: Minnehaha Academy (34), Mounds Park Academy (52), Breck (80)
Top Individuals: Henry Snider (MPA, 16:41), Maxwell Gifford (Minnehaha, 16:50), Matthew Bourne (MPA. 16:58), Shef West (Blake, 17:17), John Ferris (Minnehaha, 17:27 )
The Skinny: The 7th-ranked Minnehaha Academy boys should have no problem picking up a conference championship after taking an impressive win at Swain. They took down many of the top Class A teams at that meet, and should not have as much competition here. Mounds Park Academy has a phenomenal 1-2 punch in Henry Snider and Matthew Bourne, but the Redhawks are much deeper. Snider, Bourne, and Max Gifford should have a tight three way battle for the individual title. They're the only three boys under 17:00 in the field, and have season bests within 20 seconds of each other. Gifford enters as the top returner after finishing second to Declan Dahlberg last year.GIRLS
Virtual Meet Projection: Providence Academy (41), Blake (52), Minnehaha Academy (78), Mounds Park Academy (82)
Top Individuals: Madeline Kelly (Providence, 19:32), Margo Nightingale (MPA, 19:50), Molly Liston (Blake, 19:50), Emma Kelly (Providence, 19:52), Grace Kassebaum (Minnehaha, 20:08)
The Skinny: The 12th-ranked Providence girls will look for a strong performance here to move them back up the rankings after a somewhat disappointing performance at Griak in the Maroon Race, as well as in Milaca. Blake quietly has fielded a strong team this year as well, and most recently finished 3rd at Swain, just 13 points out of the win against some ranked opponants. Minnehaha Academy and MPA should compete for 3rd. Margo Nightingale was the runner-up as a 7th grader last year, and is fresh off a season best time at the Trinity Invitational. Madeline Kelly opened her season strong, but hasn't broken 20:00 in exactly a month, so it's unclear what shape she's in right now. Emma Kelly and Molly Liston are the only other two runners who have broken 20:00 this season. If Madeline Kelly runs like she did in her first several races, then she should be favored to win. If not, then this field is wide open, as Liston, Nightingale, and Emma Kelly are all very close in time this year.
TODAY'S MEETS