PREVIEW
MSHSL Section 6AA Championships
Location: Gale Woods Farm, Minnetrista
Weather: Low 50's, partly cloudy
BOYS
Season Best Projection: Wayzata (46), Edina (58), Eden Prairie (71), Hopkins (102), Minnetonka (139)
Season Average Projection: Edina (41), Eden Prairie (63), Wayzata (65), Hopkins (104), Minnetonka 149)
Top Individuals: Max Manley (Edina, 15:26), Andrew Brandt (Wayzata, 15:30), Eli Hoeft (Hopkins, 15:43), Jake Derouin (Eden Prairie, 15:51), Caleb Haugland (Minneapolis Washburn, 15:53), Willem Gokemeijer (Edina, 16:04), Max Lauerman (Minnetonka, 16:06), Russell Gokemeijer (Edina, 16:16), Luke Sharpe (Wayzata, 16:16), Cameron Arkesteyn (Wayzata, 16:16)
The Skinny: As usual, the Section of Death is absolutely stacked. It almost feels criminal that only two teams and eight individuals can advance to State out of Section 6AA. For most of this season, the Edina boys have looked like the clear cut best team in Minnesota. Their victories at the Milaca Mega Meet and Roy Griak Invitational reinforced their top ranking leading into the start of postseason. Yet last Monday, it was Wayzata who emerged as the Lake Conference champions. The Trojans showed up big, winning without Grant Price and Luke Sharpe. Sharpe and Price have consistently been the in the Trojans' top three this year, so with one or both of those weapons at their disposal, Wayzata will be the favorites. Cameron Arkesteyn and Luke Maly stepped up big time at conference, and they'll need to do so again to fill the void if neither of those two return. The Hornets finished just eight points back of the Trojans at conference, and were also without Gus Hubbell, usually one of their five scorers. That margin came largely from the gap between Edina's third and fourth runner. Though Edina's top three gave them an edge over Wayzata's frontrunners, the Trojans' stronger 4-5 ultimately made the difference there. Though there's a good chance it will be these two teams who take the State bids, the Eden Prairie boys will look for an upset. They finished just twelve points back of Edina at conference and their tight pack will be a huge asset in such a deep race. The Eagles' 1-5 split was just 30 seconds, so if their pack can move up well, they could sneak into a top two finish. They're actually projected to take second in the season average projection, but that's in large part because Wayzata had a slower start to the year.
Individually, Max Manley of Edina has yet to lose to a Minnesotan this year, and should be favored to collect the section title. His time of 15:26.40 on this course is the fastest time run in the state so far. Manley will have to fend off Andrew Brandt of Wayzata for the third consecutive meet. Brandt finished within six seconds of Manley in both previous meetings, and has a phenomenal kick, so he should push the pre-race favorite once again. Manley's teammate Willem Gokemeijer will also do his portion of the pace setting. Gokemeijer will look to break 16:00 for the first time this season. 7th-ranked Caleb Haugland of Minneapolis Washburn will likely take one of the top individual qualifier spots, with fellow ranked runner No. 12 Eli Hoeft also a lock for State. With a win at St. Olaf Showcase and a 6th place finish at Griak, Haugland has cemented his status as one of the best in the state. And Hoeft is coming off an impressive 15:43 behind just Manley and Brandt at conference. Jake Derouin and Max Lauerman have both been fairly consistent, and could also nab state berths. Other than Haugland, some mix of Hopkins, Eden Prairie, and Minnetonka runners should take up the State positions.
GIRLS
Season Best Projection: Wayzata (41), Edina (58), Eden Prairie (78), Minneapolis Washburn (127), Minnetonka (133)
Season Average Projection: Wayzata (41), Edina (62), Eden Prairie (73), Minneapolis Washburn (114), Minnetonka (136)
Top Individuals: Emily Covert (Minneapolis Washburn, 17:07), Emma Atkinson (Wayzata, 17:58), Liesl Paulsen (Eden Prairie, 18:13), Grace Dickel (Minneapolis Washburn, 18:22), Caroline Sassan (Wayzata, 18:22), Abby Nechanicky (Wayzata, 18:32), Maria Rickman (Edina, 18:39), Morgan Richter (Edina, 18:49), Macy Iyer (Edina, 18:54), Josephine Mosby (St. Louis Park, 18:55), Rhynn Paulsen (Wayzata, 18:56), Kate Leblanc (Minnetonka, 18:57), Maggie Wagner (Edina, 18:59)
The Skinny: After returning most of their varsity from a 7th place finish at NXN, the top-ranked Wayzata girls have lived up to expectations throughout the entire season. The Trojans came out blazing with a victory at the St. Olaf Showcase. And despite somewhat of a down race at Griak, they finished as the top Minnesotan team by 44 points over STMA, not to mention winning Milaca the weekend prior. For most of the fall they've appeared almost untouchable, especially with the emergence of Abby Nechanicky as a complement to their 1-2 punch of Emma Atkinson and Caroline Sassan. However, at the Lake Conference Championships, the Hornets came brutally close to pulling off a major upset. They scored 39 points, just four behind Wayzata. This was largely due to their tight pack, as only 36 seconds separated their top runner from their fifth. Of course, Wayzata was without Sassan. On a solid day from her, the Trojans have three who can finish before Edina even has one in. If that happens here, then Edina will not be able to make up such a gap. The Hornets will need a few of their top runners (Maria Rickman, Macy Iyer, Maggie Wagner, and/or Morgan Richter) to step up if they are to win the section. Eden Prairie has come close to Edina at points during the year, including finishing just seven back at the Bauman/Rovn Invitational. However, they were 30 points back at conference, after Haley Parker didn't race and an off day from Ananya Vegesna. If those two race well, then the Eagles could be in contention for a state berth. 10th-ranked Minneapolis Washburn has a very solid team, but might lack the fourth and fifth behind Emily Covert, Grace Dickel, and Chloe Garcia-Grafing to make it to State this year.
You've probably heard Emily Covert's name more than a few times this year, and with good reason. She's destroyed course records and put together one of the best seasons in Minnesota prep history. Covert will have no problem cruising to a victory here. Emma Atkinson just broke 18:00 on the Gale Woods Farm course, so expect her to lead the pursuit of Covert. She'll look to bring her teammates Caroline Sassan and Abby Nechanicky along for the ride. Nechanicky is fresh off of her best performance to date, a 3rd place showing at the Lake Conference Championships. Sassan did not run there last week, but has been one of the best #2 runners in the state (if not country) over the past few years. 7th-ranked Liesl Paulsen has had an extraordinary campaign, and her runner-up finish in the Lake Conference (15 seconds back of Atkinson) demonstrated that she'll be making an impact in any race she runs. 5th-ranked Grace Dickel will attempt to follow her teammate Covert, and hasn't had bad race yet. She and Paulsen should be guaranteed a state berth. And Wayzata and Edina's squads will always be in the mix of things individually.
(written by Sam O'Donnell-Hoff)