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Coming into the fall cross country season we knew that Jade Rypkema was one of the top contenders in Class A. She came into the season as the #2 ranked preseason runner for Class A and came back this fall with the 2nd fastest 5K time in Class A.
So we knew she was coming into the season with big expectations. One race into her fall season now and we might have to heighten those expectations for her.
Rypkema went out in her first race of the season and ran alone en route to a new PR of 17:31.50 at the Moorhead Dragon Twilight for the win. She won the race by 1 minute and 26 seconds over the runner-up finisher.
Related: I Want To Talk About My Coaches - Reflection Of Jade Rypkema
This was a nearly 45-second personal best for Rypkema in the 5K (XC). Her previous best had been set in 2019 when she ran a 18:15.90 at the Perham Yellow Jacket CC Harrier Classic.
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| VARSITY GIRLS 5000 METER RUN FINALS | ALL RESULTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLACE | ATHLETE | TEAM | RESULT | POINTS | ||||||
| 1 | Jade Rypkema | 12 | Nevis High School | 17:31.50 | 1 | |||||
| 2 | Kyanna Burton | 11 | Staples-Motley High School | 18:57.36 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | Caroline Kuehne | 11 | Long Prairie-Grey Eagle High School | 19:06.71 | 0 | |||||
| 4 | Mia Hoffmann | 11 | Bemidji High School | 19:10.13 | 3 | |||||
| 5 | Gracie Morris | 9 | Perham High School | 19:16.07 | 4 | |||||
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Her time of 17:31.50 ranks 2nd in Minnesota so far this fall, only behind Abbey Nechanicky who ran a 17:08.90 at St. Olaf. Her time also ranks #25 nationally for all high school girls:
| 23 | 17:30.20 | 2024 | ||
| 24 | 17:31.00 | 2024 | ||
| 25 | 17:31.50 | 2023 | ||
| 26 | 17:31.60 | 2025 | ||
| 27 | 17:33.70 | 2025 |
Dating back to the spring track and field season, Rypkema has now won 15 straight races all the way from 400m up to the 5K, discounting her 4th place in the 5K at NSAF Nationals.
Rypkema has planted herself as one of the frontrunners for the Class A title this fall alongside Amanda Overgaauw (17:36 PR) and as one of the overall best cross country runners not just in Minnesota but nationally.
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