Oct. 30, 2012
Contact: Lisa Lissimore or Ellen Rajkowski / MSHSL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Cross Country Running Meet
Two team champions return to defend 2011 titles;
Three individual champions return
Two team champions return this Saturday, Nov. 3, when the Minnesota State High School
League’s 2012 State Girls’ and Boys’ Cross Country Running Meet is conducted at St. Olaf College in
Northfield. The St. Cloud Cathedral boys (Class A) and the Stillwater Area boys (Class AA) are both in
the hunt for their second consecutive titles.
Three individual champions also return in search of more gold. Senior Maria Hauger of
Shakopee is looking to become the first Class AA runner to win four consecutive titles, while junior
Clare Flanagan is seeking her second consecutive Class A crown. Esko senior Marisa Shady, who took
top honors in Class A in 2010, also returns. She is looking to improve on last year’s third-place
showing.
The girls run a 4,000-meter course. The boys run a 5,000-meter course.
Class A Boys Highlights
The Crusaders of St. Cloud Cathedral return to defend their 2011 title. They have six runners
with previous state meet experience. Eleven other teams also return from last year’s field: Cotter of
Winona, Plainview-Elgin-Millville, Martin County West of Sherburn, Waseca, Redwood Valley of
Redwood Falls, Luverne, Minnehaha Academy of Minneapolis, The Blake School of Minneapolis,
Mora, Albany, and Perham. Cotter includes students from Hope Lutheran of Winona.
The other teams qualified this year are Pelican Rapids, Proctor, Esko, and Park Rapids Area.
The final rankings from the state coaches association for the qualified teams are: 1. Perham; 2.
St. Cloud Cathedral; 3.Minnehaha Academy; 4. Waseca; 5. The Blake School; 6. Esko; 7. Cotter; 8.
Plainview-Elgin-Millville; 9. Redwood Valley; 11. Martin County West; and 12. Pelican Rapids.
Senior Charlie Lawrence of Foley is the highest returning individual medal-winner; he placed
third in 2011. Two other Top 10 finishers also return: sophomore Shane Streich of Waseca, fifth, and
junior Nick Golebiowski of St. Cloud Cathedral, eighth.
Lawrence was ranked No. 2 in the final coaches poll followed by Streich at No. 4 and
Golebiowski at No. 5.
Class A Girls Highlights
Ten of last year’s 16 teams are back. The Annandale Cardinals, who earned runner-up honors
last year, are the highest returning qualifiers. They return with six runners from last year’s roster. Other
teams that are returning are Rochester Lourdes, Waseca, Adrian, The Blake School of Minneapolis,
Holdingford, Albany, Esko, International Falls, and Perham. The other qualified teams are Dover-Eyota,
Martin County West of Sherburn, Canby/Minneota/Lincoln H I, Minnehaha Academy of Minneapolis,
Spectrum/Legacy, and Warroad. Spectrum/Legacy is a co-op between Spectrum High School of Elk
River and Legacy Christian Academy of Andover.
The final rankings from the state coaches association for the qualified teams are: 1. Esko; 2.
Waseca; 3. Rochester Lourdes; 5. Dover-Eyota; 8. Annandale; 9. The Blake School; and 10. Minnehaha
Academy.
Defending champion Clare Flanagan, a junior from The Blake School, is the highest returning
qualifier. She will face tough competition from junior Emi Trost of Cannon Falls and senior Marisa
Shady of Esko. Trost placed second last year and Shady followed in third. Shady also took top honors in
2010.
Three additional Top 10 finishers also return: junior McKenzie Holt of St. Cloud Christian,
fourth; senior Kayla Woltz of Chatfield, fifth; and junior Courtney Alama of Annandale, seventh.
Flanagan was No. 1 in the final rankings from the state coaches association, followed by Trost at
No. 2, Holt at No. 4, Shady at No. 5, and Woltz at No. 7.
Class AA Boys Highlights
Eight of last year’s 16 teams will be back, including the defending champions from Stillwater
Area. The Ponies have five runners with previous state meet experience. Other teams returning from last
year’s meet are Owatonna, Rosemount, White Bear Lake Area, Centennial of Circle Pines, Mounds
View, Edina, and Moorhead. The other teams in the field are Rochester Century, Orono, Chaska,
Eastview of Apple Valley, Wayzata, Elk River, Chisago Lakes Area of Lindstrom, and Bemidji.
The final rankings from the state coaches association for the qualified teams are: 1. Stillwater
Area; 2. Wayzata; 3. Edina; 7. Owatonna; 8. Rosemount; 9. Centennial; and 10. Bemidji.
In the individual competition, senior Kevin Docherty of Cretin-Derham Hall of St. Paul is the
highest returning qualifier. He is looking to improve on last year’s sixth-place showing.
In addition to Docherty, three other 2011 Top 10 finishers also return: senior Wayde Hall of
Stillwater Area, seventh; sophomore Joey Duerr of Chaska, eighth; and senior Eric Colvin of Stillwater
Area, 10th.
Hall was ranked No. 2 in the final coaches poll. Docherty was No. 3, Duerr was No. 7, and
Colvin came in at No. 10.
Class AA Girls Highlights
Lakeville South, which placed second in 2011, is this year’s highest returning qualifier. The
Cougars have six runners with previous state meet experience. Ten additional teams also return from last
year’s field: Lakeville North, Chanhassen, Eagan, Prior Lake, East Ridge of Woodbury, Roseville Area,
Totino-Grace of Fridley, Wayzata, Edina, and Forest Lake.
Teams from Chaska, Mounds View, Elk River, Moorhead, and Willmar round out this year’s
Class AA field.
The final rankings from the state coaches association for the qualified teams are: 1. Eagan; 2.
Wayzata; 3. East Ridge; 4. Edina; 5. Chanhassen; 6. Lakeville South; 9. Willmar; and 10. Moorhead.
Three-time defending champion Maria Hauger of Shakopee, a senior, leads the field of eight
returning Top 10 finishers. The others are: Bemidji sophomore Jenna Truedson, third; Alexandria ninthgrader
Megan Hasz, fourth; Alexandria ninth-grader Bethany Hasz, fifth; Lakeville South sophomore
Kaytlyn Larson, sixth; Andover senior Nicole Heitzman, seventh; Eagan senior Danielle Anderson,
eighth; and Wayzata sophomore Anna French, 10th.
Hauger, who became the first Class AA competitor to win three consecutive titles last year, was
ranked No. 1 in the final coaches poll. The others were: Anderson at No. 2; Truedson at No. 3; Bethany
Hasz at No. 4; Megan Hasz at No. 5; and French at No. 7.
The Schedule
The Class A boys’ race will start at 10 a.m., followed by the Class A girls’ race at 11 a.m. The
Class AA boys’ race will start at 1 p.m., followed by the Class AA girls’ race at 2 p.m. A combined
awards ceremony will take place approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the girls’ race in each
class.
State Meet Parking
School teams, meet officials, media, and vehicles displaying handicapped passes will be allowed
to park on the St. Olaf campus near the race course at Skoglund Athletic Center.
Spectator parking is available at four remote parking lots at the southeast end of St. Olaf campus.
Large red signs will direct spectators to these lots. Shuttle service to and from campus will be provided
from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The pick-up and drop-off points will be posted with large red “Bus Stop”
signs.
GrandStadium Webcast
A composite highlight video will be produced at the meet and will be available for free viewing
for seven days at www.Prep45.com sometime the following week.
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To find St. Olaf College, take I-35 to the Highway 19/Northfield exit and drive east to the
campus. Follow the signs toward the Skoglund Athletic Center. Display your news media
confirmation notice to gain access to nearby parking. The media room is located in Conference
Room 112 in Skoglund.
Amy Doherty and Linda Roberts will serve as media stewards.
Meet results will be posted on the League’s Web site. The League’s Web site address is
www.MSHSL.org.