Boys Individuals
The favorite(s): Sam Scott
Sam Scott of Minneapolis Southwest has the experience and history to recapture his title for the St. Olaf High School Showcase. The senior finished 3rd in the meet last year and was the overall champion in 2021. Scott is coming off a great track season where he broke 9 in the 3200m for the first time, running 8:57.10 at the MSHSL State Track & Field Championships. Challenging Sam will be Caleb Dickel of Minneapolis Washburn. Dickel was 17th overall last season but had a huge breakthrough, dropped a minute off of his PR, and ended up 11th at the 2022 MSHSL Cross Country Championships. These two along with a few dark horses, should make for a fun early-season matchup.
Boys Teams
Last year, Lakeville North took home the varsity boys race team title, finishing with 94 points and a 16:33 average on the 5000m course. With a slightly different field then last year, who will be takings home this year's crown? Minnetonka High School looks to be the heavy favorite on paper based off of their returners from last year. It's still early in the season and some teams have yet to make their season debut, but Minnetonka has a nice crew returning that should help give them an edge over the rest of the field.
Girls Individuals
The Favorite(s): Norah Hushagen
Norah Hushagen is coming off an All-American Performance last cross country season when she placed 20th overall at the Nike Cross Nationals meet. Hushagen was 3rd overall at her State XC meet, and on the track, she captured two top-five performances in the 3200m and 1600m, running new PRs in both events. Hushagen is the 3rd fastest returner from this meet a year ago, but her national-level experience has made her a favorite for almost any course she sets foot on. Challenging Hushagen will be Madeline Lage of Waconia High School. Lage was third overall at last year's St. Olaf High School Showcase and ran 18:54.80 on the course. Madeline would go on to place 8th at the MSHSL State Cross Country Championships to end her junior season of XC.
Girls Teams
One of the heavy favorites for the girl's team title this year will be the girl's squad out of Minnetonka High School, who start the season ranked 24th overall in the country on our Preseason MileSplit50 rankings. This team was second overall in the at State last season to Wayzata and returns all of its top five runners from that season, led by sophomore Evie Malec, who was 6th overall at State as a freshman. Minnetonka has its eyes set on a podium finish at the Nike Heartland Regioals in order to punch their ticket to Nike Nationals in December.