Conference Tuesday - The Biggest Day Of XC Of The Year

Location: Daly Park, Mapleton

Weather: About 50, sunny and breezy

BOYS

Virtual Meet Projection: Mankato Loyola/Cleveland (22), Martin County West (34), Medford (93)

Top Individuals: Mitch Johnstone (Mankato Loyola/Cleveland, 16:35), Carson Kahler (Martin County West, 16:53), Jerrett Peterson (Mankato Loyola/Cleveland, 17:04), Kolton Larson (Martin County West, 17:06), Brett Omtvedt (Mankato/Loyola Cleveland, 17:15)

The Skinny: 8th-ranked Mankato Loyola/Cleveland will look to turn this race into a blowout. Though Martin County West is just twelve points behind in the virtual meet, that number is somewhat deceiving. Mankato/Loyola Cleveland is projected to take up five of the top seven spots, with Martin County West taking the best of the rest. This race should never be in doubt for Mankato Loyola/Cleveland. Like his team, Mitch Johnstone is ranked 8th individually. He should cruise to victory, as only Carson Kahler has also broken 17:00. Kahler and Kolton Larson will look to prevent a Mankato Loyola/Cleveland sweep, and both will contend for a top five spot. However, the rest of the ranked squad's pack should take up the rest of the top spots, led by Johnstone, Jerrett Peterson, and Brett Omtvedt.

GIRLS

Virtual Meet Projection: Martin County West (48), Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial/Nicollet (59), Waterville-Elysian-Morristown/Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (60), Mankato Loyola/Cleveland (86)

Top Individuals: Makenna Thurston (LCWM, 19:01), Marissa Whitehead (Martin County West, 19:30), Addison Peed (WEM, 20:10), Olivia Flack (LCWM, 20:25), Lauran Dimler (WEM, 20:25), Ellie Nygren (Mankato Loyola/Cleveland, 20:25), Grace Moeller (LCWM, 20:38)

The Skinny: Individually, the matchup between 11th-ranked Makenna Thurston and Marissa Whitehead. Thurston should probably be favored, as she has consistently been in the mid to low 19s and beat Whitehead at the Madelia Invite. Whitehead hasn't quite found the form of her 7th place finish at State last season, but did just run her season best roughly two weeks ago. Behind them, Addison Peed, Olivia Flack, Lauran Dimler, Ellie Nygren, and Grace Moeller should make up a fairly tight chase pack. With all of them concentrated in the mid 20s, it's hard to predict who will emerge in front of that pack. In the team battle, it will be extremely tight between Martin County West, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown. All three are projected to finish within twelve points of each other in the virtual meet. LCWM has the firepower in their top three, but Martin County West's overall depth puts them over the edge on paper. And WEM quietly has a very solid five, so the team battle will also be a toss-up.

(written by Sam O'Donnell-Hoff)