TEAMS TO WATCH: Nova Classical Academy, Minnehaha Academy, Holy Family Catholic, Mounds Park Academy
INDIVIDUALS TO WATCH: Harris Anderson (MSA, 16:03), Henry Snider (MPA, 16:25), Shef West (Blake, 16:25), Alden Keller (Breck, 16:48), Dare Akinmusire (Nova, 16:51), Trace Chiodo (Minnehaha, 16:52), Michael Moran (SPA, 16:55), Isak Nightingale (MPA, 16:59), Vaughn Wolf (Saint Agnes, 16:59)
THE SKINNY: Fresh off a 4x800m State Championship this spring, the 5th-ranked Nova Classical Academy squad entered the season as a top contender in Class A, and they have maintained that standing throughout the season by handily defeating all but two of the Class A teams they faced (those two teams being West Central Area and St. James at the Milaca Mega Meet). Nova's 1-5 average of 17:19 and spread of 48 seconds are both the best marks in the section, and they are the only team in the section whose entire section squad has run under 18 minutes. The projected runner-up is 10th-ranked Minnehaha Academy, also a state qualifier in 2018, and they mirror their section rival in many ways. They have the second-best 1-5 average and 2nd-best spread of any other team, have very similar depth, and even a similar team structure with one primary frontrunner (Dare Akinmusire for Nova and Trace Chiodo for Minnehaha) supported by solid depth. Of the remaining teams in the section, none seem to have the necessary depth to provide serious potential for an upset, although Holy Family Catholic projected average of 17:37 for their top four runners indicated that a huge day from their 5th runner could make things interesting.
Individually, the path to State will could travel through Harris Anderson of Math & Science Academy. Hampered a bit by injury last year, Anderson has yet to claim a section championship, or even break 15 minutes in his career despite being one of the top runners in Class A for several years, and this race could be an excellent opportunity for him to check off both boxes before his final State XC meet. To give Anderson a serious challenge, however, will be Mounds Park Academy's Henry Snider, the defending section champion who was 9th at State a year ago and took 7th in the 3200m this spring in track. Also likely to play a big factor will be The Blake School sophomore Shef West, who has defeated Snider twice this year against one loss. The only previous matchup between these three runners this year ended with Anderson on top with both West and Snider seven second behind, so we can probably anticipate a great battle between those three. Dare Akinmusire, Trace Chiodo, and Breck's Alden Keller are all also solid bets for a top-five finish, while Michael Moran, Isak Nightingale, and Vaughn Wolf could also be factors at the top.
GIRLS VIRTUAL MEET
TEAMS TO WATCH: Nova Classical Academy, The Blake School, Saint Paul Academy and Summit School, Minnehaha Academy
INDIVIDUALS TO WATCH: Greta Hansen (MSA, 19:33), Margo Nightingale (MPA, 20:03), Bridget Tetmeyer (TCA/GR, 20:06), Molly Liston (Blake, 20:07), Taylor Barkwell (SPA, 20:09), Katie Dahiya (MPA, 20:16), Sawyer Bollinger-danielson (SPA, 20:22), Greta Long (Eagle Ridge/ISM, 20:23)