Conference Tuesday - The Biggest Day Of XC Of The Year

St. Paul City Conference Championships

Location: Como Golf Course, St. Paul

Weather: 55 degrees, partly cloudy

Boys

Virtual Meet Projection: Saint Paul Highland Park (23), Saint Paul Central (36)

Top Individuals: Oliver Paleen (Saint Paul Highland Park, 15:57), Calvin Boone (Saint Paul Highland Park, 16:08), Mickies Kiros (Saint Paul Central, 16:09), Conor Gregg Escalante (Saint Paul Highland Park, 16:26)

The Skinny: Saint Paul Highland Park looks primed to take the conference team title. They beat Saint Paul Central, their biggest competitor, at the Roy Griak Invitational by over 400 points. With less runners in the field, the point difference should be a lot smaller but SPHP is the top team. They are currently ranked seventh in Class AA with their top runner, Oliver Paleen, ranked eleventh. Paleen was tenth at Griak against a stacked field and has had many other great showings but does not have an individual title yet. That first title should come from this conference meet. His teammate, Calvin Boone has not been all that far off of Paleen this year as he is having a breakout season.  Coming off of a good start to his season, it will be a good race between him and Mickies Kiros for second. Kiros has beat Boone twice this season but not by much, recently at Griak it was only a six second difference. Kiros is the defending conference champion as Paleen ended his season early last year.

Girls

Virtual Meet Projection: Saint Paul Highland Park (20), Saint Paul Central (39)

Top Individuals: Molly Moening (Saint Paul Highland Park, 18:11), Delia Johnson (Saint Paul Highland Park, 19:02), Caroline Harding (Saint Paul Highland Park, 19:44), Iris Guider (Saint Paul Central, 20:01)

The Skinny: It is likely to be a Saint Paul Highland Park sweep as the girls are projected to win as well. Their biggest competitors will be the team from Saint Paul Central. The two have not raced each other yet this season but Highland Park seems to have the stronger team this season. Molly Moening is the standout runner in this field with her eighth place ranking in Class AA. She has run very consistently this year, steadily improving as the season progresses. As only a freshman, Moening is going for her third conference title. Moening will be followed by her two teammates, Delia Johnson and Caroline Harding as they round out the top three placings.

(written by Emma Benner)