Location: Twin Pines Golf Course, Bagley
Weather: Mid 30's, light winds, cloudy
BOYS VIRTUAL MEET
TEAMS TO WATCH: Perham, East Grand Forks, Roseau, Frazee
INDIVIDUALS TO WATCH: Brandon O'Hara (Perham, 16:19.51), Jacob McCleary (Perham, 16:36.6), Tyson Mahar (East Grand Forks, 16:38.9), Bailey Evenson (Perham, 16:51.1), Cole Nowacki (East Grand Forks, 16:53.7), Jonathan Krueger (East Grand Forks, 17:10.9), Tesfaye Young (Perham, 17:27.7), Chase Belka (Perham, 17:32.1), Grady Larsen (Frazee, 17:42.1), Hayden Reitmeier (Fisher, 17:43.8)
THE SKINNY: It is no surprise to followers of Minnesota high school cross country that Perham is the prohibitive favorite in section 8A and to go on to win their third straight MSHSL Class A title. One of the Midwest's best small town programs looks strong enough in the season average data to possibly place all seven athletes in the top 15 with five in the top eight. When using the season best numbers Perham is among the best across both classes. East Grand Forks looks to be a clear second place based on a strong front three that should figure in the top ten but Roseau has a tight team split around 40 seconds that could allow the Rams to sneak up on the Green Wave but they will have to improve a season average that is about 40 seconds behind EGF. Frazee and Wadena-Deer Creek have potential to chase the second state meet ticket but would need season bests in nearly every scoring spot to be in contention.
Four class A coach ranked runners will be in the field along with several others who have been in the poll throughout the season. Perham senior Brandon O'Hara has the best season average and won the section title a year ago before going on to a fourth place finish at state. This season Perham sophomore Jacob McCleary has finished ahead of O'Hara several times including when the pair went 2-3 at the Heart of Lakes Conference meet. EGF junior Tyson Mahar has bettered O'Hara in the Griak Gold race when a fall slowed several Perham runners, and the Bemidji Invite this season. Perham senior Bailey Evenson has the third best career PR in the field but has slid to the three spot for the Yellowjackets this season after finishing third at sections last season directly ahead of both Mahar and EGF senior Cole Nowacki, and running to sixth at the state meet. Nowacki has been the no. 2 man for EGF this season after a tenth place finish at the state meet a year ago. If Frazee is going to find a way through to state they will need their no. 1 man, senior Grady Larson to find is way into the top ten and likely improve his season best 17:09 result. Wadena-Deer Creek senior Bereket Loer will also need to improve his 16:50 PR and get a teammate or two to move up if there is any hope for the Wolverines state meet dream.
GIRLS VIRTUAL MEET
TEAMS TO WATCH: Perham, East Grand Forks, Hawley, Wadena-Deer Creek, Pelican Rapids
INDIVIDUALS TO WATCH: Jade Rypkema (Nevis, 19:27.7), Kira Sweeney (Wadena-Deer Creek), Aspen Rohde (Perham, 20:10.6), Lydia Floden (20:42.4), Jerzie Finstad (Thief River Falls, 20:42.4), Quincy Anderson (20:44.6), Mya Morris (Perham, 20:49.2), Lily Peterson (Hawley, 20:49.6), Liz Birkeland (Perham, 21:00.2), Taytum Nelson (Lake Park-Audubon, 21:11.6)
THE SKINNY: The Perham girls will also be big favorites in section 8A and at the class A state meet. On the season they have averaged a 20:48 over a 65 second plit both those numbers are more than a minute better than the field they will face on Thursday in Bagley. Numbers are similar when considering season bests and while there are plenty of quality state level individuals, Perham could have all seven athletes in the top 20, ahead of most teams second or third runners. The race for second is much tighter and could hinge on how no. 1 runners fare in comparison to athletes from Perham no matter their place within the team. Considering team averages, East Grand Forks has been more consistent but Wadena has a faster front runner and overall season bests. EGF finished ahead of W-DC in all three team meetings this year but just five points separated the teams at in the Swain 1A race. Hawley also figures in the mix with an outside chance to get the second state slot but will also highly influence the meet with their pack all running in the crucial top 25-45 range.
The fastest individual in the field will be Nevis freshman Jade Rypkema who's raced just three 5k events this season but unleashed an 18:15 at the Perham Harrier Classic in early October. Wadena-Deer Creek junior Kira Sweeney has averaged 19:43 this season with a career best 18:38 in the same race that produced Rypkema's PR. That day also produced a career best for Perham eighth grader Aspen Rohde who has averaged 20:10 this season. Last season Rohde was eighth in section 8AA while Sweeney won section 6A. Both athletes moved to new schools in the off-season. EGF freshman Lydia Floden was eighth in the section last year and comes in with the fourth fastest season best and season average. Perham freshmen Quincy Anderson and Mya Morris were ninth and tenth in the section last year and could finish even higher this season.