HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS MAROON RACE
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In the girls Maroon race the defending champ Josie Mosby has not run this season and runner-up Ava Hill is entered in the Gold race. Hillsboro (ND) senior Reagan Baesler was fourth last year and will come into Saturday with the fastest season best in the field. Last year's team champion Saint Louis Park is in the field and could be among the top five again this season.
VIRTUAL MEET TOP THREE TEAMS: Brandon Valley, SD (134), Osceola, WI (181.5), Eau Claire Memorial (WI) 204
Brandon Valley, led by the strength of three in the top 20, is the top team in our virtual meet. They look to have a 19:52 average among their best results so far this year but the split does leave room for other teams to keep it close in the final two scoring spots.
Osceola is the only team in our virtual meet with a pair of runners in the top ten and that keeps them in front of the next three teams, though the 1-5 gap of over two minutes in season bests will need to close to chase the maroon race title.
Saint Louis Park appears to be the top Minnesota team in the projections with five in the top 80 in our virtual meet. The Orioles will need improvement throughout their line up to challenge Brandon Valley or Osceola but they have a very realistic shot at a top five finish. If eighth grader Jersey Miller can find her way into the top ten and fellow eighth grader Ruby Massie and senior Kaia Myers can battle up inside the top 30, a top three performance is possible.
Anoka, led by eighth grader Kaelyn Nelson, will also be in contention for a top five finish though the list seventh in the virtual meet. There is plenty of room for improvement in closing their split of over two minutes and if the Tornadoes close that gap, points will come off their score quickly.
TOP FIVE SEASON BESTS: Reagan Baesler, Hillsboro (ND), 18:43.6, Lydia Roller, Staunton (IL) 18:50.3, Mia Wentzy, Brandon Valley (SD) 18:54.8, Kelby Rinas, Mandan (ND), 19:01.0, Rachael Ulrich, Osceola (WI) 19:02.7
Hillsboro senior Reagan Baesler is highest returning finisher and has the best time so far this season as one of three girls who have gone under 19 minutes already this season. She finished in 19:33.8 last season and there are about a dozen girls who have already run that fast this season. Her season best is the second best time in North Dakota this season.
Staunton (IL) junior Lydia Roller has run an 18:50.2 this season, eighth best at 5k in Illinois where they usually run 3 miles. Brandon Valley eighth grader Mia Wentzy ran a PR of 18:54.8 at the Auggie Twilight earlier this year which is third in our virtual meet.
Jersey Miller was 14th last season in 20:05 and has already run a new PR of 19:32.5 so she may be ready to move into the maroon race top ten on Saturday. Along with Anoka eighth grader Kaelyn Nelson, Albany junior Kristine Kalthoff, and Math & Science freshman Greta Hansen are all threats to break into the top ten. Kalthoff was also named to the MNXCCA Coaches Class A Polls this week at no 10.