Meet Previews: Conference Championships Week 1

Ryan Kotajarvi


South Suburban Conference Championships

Boys

Virtual Meet Results: Lakeville North (43), Rosemount (52), Lakeville South (83), Eastview (138), Apple Valley (162), Farmington (163), Burnsville (184), Shakopee (207), Prior Lake (212), Eagan (220)

Top Individuals: Andrew Casey (15:46.90), Hootie Hage (16:09.39), Will Harder (16:17.98), Joe McNeil (16:22.71), Bryce Stachewicz (16:24.60)

The Skinny: The Rosemount boys will look to get revenge against the Lakeville North boys after being defeated by them at last week's Ev Berg Invitational. At that meet, the Lakeville boys upset Rosemount by a score of 47-53. Our projected results have it being another close race with just 9 points separating the two teams. 

With a spread that small, you never know what might happen in this race. What we do know is that the South Suburban Conference will have a new champion after last year's champion, Prior Lake, graduated most of their varsity runners. 

On the individual side, it should be a great race between Andrew Casey and Hootie Hage. The two runners have gone head-to-head seven times before, with Casey taking 5 wins and Hage having 2. Hage has been the most consistent runner of the two, but Casey has been the faster runner of the two this season. Behind them, there is a steady group of boys around 16:20 that will compete with each other, and really settle the team races. 


Girls

Virtual Meet Results: Prior Lake (49), Farmington (68), Lakeville South (69), Eastview (104), Eagan (138), Rosemount (144), Lakeville North (201), Shakopee (216), Burnsville (227), Apple Valley (320)

Top Individuals: Zoie Dundon (18:37.81), Claire Vukovics (18:55.64), Sara Gastony (18:56.86), Taylor Heimerl (19:22.98), Keeley Mohling (19:24.20), Mackenzy Lippold (19:24.70)

The Skinny: Three familiar foes will face off once again for South Suburban glory. The Prior Lake, Lakeville South, and Farmington girls are all incredibly similar teams with a clear top runner and nice team depth. Our virtual results have it being a close race between the three teams with just 20 points separating the three. 

None of those three teams have all run at the same meet yet this season. The Farmington girls did beat the Lakeville South girls at Roy Griak, and the Prior Lake Girls also beat Lakeville South at the Hopkins Baumen/Rovn Invite. It should be a great race between the three teams. If the Farmington girls can live up to their potential coming into the season, they might be the team to beat. Until then, the Prior Lake girls are the team to beat. 

It should be a three-runner race for the individual title between Zoie Dundon, Claire Vukovics, and Sara Gastony. Dundon and Gastony should be the favorites as they have both averaged around 19:00 per 5K this season, with Dundon having a seasonal best of 18:37. They most recently went head-to-head at the Chaska Victoria Lions Invitational with Dundon coming away with the win over Gastony. Vukovics can be up there with Dundon and Gastony, but has had more of an uneven season with a best of 18:55 but averaging around 19:30.