Round 1:
Abbey Nechanicky (1) vs. Norah Hushagen (8)
---
Abbey Nechanicky:
Nechanicky ran one of the best high school seasons ever seen in Minnesota, going undefeated from her first race at the St. Olaf High School Showcase all the way to the Team Heartland Regional. Nechanicky still has one race last at the Team Cross Country Nationals on 12/3.
This season Nechanicky broke the Wayzata school record for the 5K, set the Gale Woods Farm record, broke the 17-minute mark in the 5K five times, broke the Heartland regional meet record, won the Class AAA state title and ran the fastest high school girls 5K on Minnesota soil ever.
Nechanicky now owns the 2nd fastest 5K time by a Minnesota girl ever with a time of 16:43.70, only behind Analee Weaver's time of 16:42.60 and has the #2, #3, #4, and #5 5K times ever by a Minnesota high school girl.
She also led the Wayzata girls to an undefeated season that culminated in the Class AAA state title and then their first berth to Team Nationals since 2018 when they finished 3rd overall.
Norah Hushagen:
The rising star from Forest Lake, Hushagen has been a standout runner ever since her 7th grader season, but by far her sophomore year was the best we've seen from her so far. This season, Hushagen won five races which included the Suburban East Conference and Section 7AAA titles and set a new PR in the 5K with a time of 17:17.40.
Her time of 17:17.40 at the Team Heartland Regional was a huge 12-second PR for Hushagen at the time and secured her a spot at Team Nationals on 12/3 with her 5th place finish. She will represent Minnesota there as an individual along the Wayzata girls team, Sydney Drevlow, and Jade Rypkema.
Her time was the 4th best in Minnesota this season, 2nd best in her class for Minnesota girls, 12th for her class nationally this fall, and the 65th-best time nationally this season.