Class AA Section Preview Central

Location: Rich-Spring Golf Course, Cold Spring

Weather: Upper 30's, light wins, cloudy

BOYS VIRTUAL MEET

INDIVIDUALS TO WATCH: Gage Mostad (Bemidji, 15:52.2), Evan Myran (Moorhead, 16:03.8), Nathan Alto (Bemidji, 16:23.3), Nicholas Youso (Bemidji, 16:27.5), Fuad Bashir (Willmar, 16:34), Granton Schneider (Moorhead, 16:34.2), Aden Aden (Willmar, 16:38.2), Jacob Kleven (Alexandria, 16:40.6), Josef Lalli (Bemidji, 16:44.7), Ethan Maish (Bemidji, 16:46.1)

THE SKINNY: Based on season PRs Bemidji is the team to beat in section 8AA with five of the top ten fastest efforts of the year on their resume. The Lumberjacks have been on the edge of the class AA rankings throughout the year and look to be a dangerous team at the state level if they advance out of the section. The battle for the second team state meet qualification spot will be a toss up as two well respected programs, Moorhead and Willmar, figure to be the favorites to move on to St Olaf in two weeks. Right now Moorhead has a slightly faster front runner and team average but Willmar has run a much tighter split under 50 seconds for most of the year when their best athletes compete. Willmar has defeated both Bemidji and Moorhead head to head this season so every individual battle will count toward which two teams advance. St Cloud Apollo has seen steady improvement throughout the season but have yet to see their front runners compete at the same level as the best in section 5A and that likely would keep them outside the top three.

Individually, Bemidji senior Gage Mostad has consistently raced well throughout the season and will be the only runner in the section to have dipped under 16 minutes this season at the exceptionally fast track at Moorhead. Head to head he has bettered every runner in the section when they've faced off in regular season competitions and is the favorite to win the meet. Moorhead junior Evan Myran has been closest to Mostad when section 5AA teams met during the regular season and he looks to be a lock to earn a state meet berth even if his Spud teammates are not able to earn the team bid. If Willmar qualifies as a team it could hinge on if junior Fuad Bashir can run among the top five, ahead of as many of the Bemidji front five as possible. Bashir was eighth in section 2AA last year and could better that placement this season. Moorhead senior Granton Schneider and Willmar senior Aden Aden will also play a big role in the team scoring and individual qualifying spots as the no. 2 man for both their respective teams. Another name to watch is Alexandria junior Jacob Kleven as he appears ready to challenge for a top ten position, affecting the team scores even though his team will not likely be in the hunt. He could be the first individual outside the top three teams to cross the line and help decide the individuals who advance to state.

GIRLS VIRTUAL MEET

TEAMS TO WATCH: Alexandria, Willmar, Rocori, Bemidji
INDIVIDUALS TO WATCH: Taylor Melton (Moorhead, 18:55.1), Lauren Eilers (Willmar, 18:55.7), Regan Dewitt (Bemidji, 18:58.1), Katelyn Motter (Rocori, 19:01.9), Lexi Dehmer (Becker, 19:08), Aleah Miller (Alexandria, 19:11.7), Jaelyn Miller (Alexandria, 19:16.1), Caitlin Bright (Alexandria, 19:16.5), Paige Larsen (Rocori, 19:18.5), Erin Eilers (Willmar, 19:22.5)

THE SKINNY: Alexandria will open as the favorite for the section 8AA title with pack of runners who have consistently run around a low to mid 19-minute time, producing tight splits and low averages all season. While the Cardinals may be the favorites, the race for the second spot should be exciting as Willmar and Rocori both have plenty of talent and the ability to run five athletes near the top 20 overall. It would take a lot of improvement from the fourth and fifth scores from either team to catch Alexandria but every point at every spot will be huge to decide the second ticket to state in this section. Bemidji and Becker should also be in a tight battle to tuck inside the top five in the team scoring.

Four individuals have run 19:01 or better this season including Moorhead senior Taylor Melton who produced a career PR 18:55 in early October at the Perham Harrier Classic and Willmar seventh grader Lauren Ellers who also ran an 18:55 in winning the Central Lakes Conference title last week over a field with many of the names she'll face on Thursday. Bemidji freshman Regan Dewitt has also gone under 19 minutes in finishing seventh at the Perham Harrier Classic. Rocori eighth grader Katelyn Motter is another young name to watch as she was conference runner-up to Ellers last week in 19:01. Becker senior Lexi Dehmer is another name to track with a career PR of 19:00 and having finished a very competitive third at the Mississippi 8 conference meet to a pair of likely state meet qualifiers. Alexandria's hold on the team title comes with sophomore Aleah Miller, eighth grader Jaelyn Miller and senior Caitlin Bright all figuring to be in or near the top ten. Unless that pack falters or some other athletes emerge the Cardinals will head into state as the no. 6 ranked team and looking to do serious damage at St Olaf.

Class AA Section Championships

1AA

5AA

2AA

6AA

3AA

7AA

4AA

8AA