Location: Eagle Ridge Golf Course, Coleraine
Weather: 68°, humid, chance of rain
BOYS
Virtual Meet Projections: Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin (60), Ely (66), Iron Mountain-Buhl (161)
Individuals to watch: Geno Uhrbom (GNK, 15:38.0), Cameron Stocke (16:05.8), Luke Olson (Ely, 16:13.8)
The Skinny: Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin has a slight advantage in our projections based on the advantage they gain from having the fastest returner in Class A, Geno Uhrbom, in their uniform. Outside of that front runner, Ely looks very closely matched with the Titans in their scoring five. Individually the race features three of the best in class A led by Uhrbom, Virginia sophomore Cameron Stocke and Ely senior Luke Olson. Stocke beat Olson head to head last week at the Virginia Invite and both ran faster than Urhbom did in his first race at Brainerd, but he was untested and cruised to a nearly 90 second victory on that day. These three are the class of the field and it should be fun to see the results, regardless of their times, on Thursday.
GIRLS
Virtual Meet Projections: Mesabi East (117), Moose Lake (125), Virginia (130.5)
Individuals to watch: Ava Hill (Mesabi East, 18:24.4), Natalie Fultz (Eveleth-Gilbert, 19:34.7), Zoe Devine (Ely, 19:44.6), Ryan Ford (International Falls, 19:46.0), Lydia Skelton (Mesabi East, 19:47), Bella Thomas (Mesabi East, 19;53.5)
The Skinny: This one projects to be pretty wide open but decided by Mesabi East putting three runners in the top ten. However, after their top three things drop off quickly and in a field that figures to have over 150 athletes, numbers get big very quickly in the fourth and fifth spot. Mesabi East senior Ava Hill opened her season with a comfortable win at Virginia last week and should be the heavy favorite again this week but is her teammates junior Lydia Skelton and freshman Bella Thomas who could both get inside the top ten that may be a bigger factor on the day. It appears Mesabi's fourth runner may not come through until the 40s so even if they can get the front few spots in the meet, Moose Lake figures to have their fourth through inside the top 30 and any improvement on their top spot, currently at 12th could mean they vault to the front.