Location: Holdingford HS
Weather: 78°, mostly cloudy
BOYS
Virtual Meet Projections: Saint Cloud Cathedral (76), Albany (88), Melrose (121)
Individuals to watch: Noah Stewart (Morris/Chokio, 16:25.7), Christopher Borash (Royalton, 16:29), Jeffrey Henrikson (Maple Lake, 16:59.5), Grant Mayers (Albany, 17:08.4)
The Skinny: St Cloud Cathedral is the projected favorite despite no runners projecting inside the top nine but a possible split under 50 seconds could give them five inside the top 20 on a day with no dominant team. Morris senior Noah Stewart is the fastest returner in the field but looked to be off form in finishing outside the top five at his home meet last week, not breaking 18 minutes. Royalton senior Christoher Borash was faster in his opener and could be the top candidate to challenge for the win. Maple Lake senior Jeffery Henrikson went sub-17 for the first time in his career at his home meet last week as well.
GIRLS
Virtual Meet Projections: Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted (48), Albany (70), Maple Lake (78), Eden Valley-Watkins (92)
Individuals to watch: Gracie Mallak (Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, 19:01.1), Kristine Kalthoff (Albany, 19:25.5), Sophie Pribyl (Maple Lake, 19:33.0), Rachel Neu (Albany, 19:33.8), Augustus Demarais (Maple Lake, 19:38.4)
The Skinny: Several teams have a competitive top three but it appears coaches poll ranked no. 3 Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted wlll show their 1-5 depth, potentially putting five in the top 20. If Albany and Maple Lake can pull their fifth runners inside the top 20 then it will be a wide open team race. Gracie Mallak opened her season with a solid 19:02 victory at Maple Lake last week and is the favorite this weekend as well. PRs are very close for runners ranked second through fifth in our projections, making for a very competitive race at the front.