On the boys side this year, there seems to be a clear favorite to win the team title in MN#6 Willmar as they have beat all the top 2AA teams at least once. Shooting for the second spot to state will be of teams including MN#12 Chaska, Hutchinson and Mankato West and Buffalo. On the individual side, it looks to be MN#3 Mahad Hassan's (Willmar) race to lose as their are no other ranked runners in the field. Competing for the other 10 spots to go to state individually will be Andrew Nicklawsky and Mohammed Hussein (Willmar), Kyle and Eric Schmidt (Hutchinson), Zac Mellon and Ben Rodriguez (Buffalo), Tom Hall (Mankato East), Pat Bigaouette, Ben Sathre and Kyle Economy (Chaska), Nick Lindstrom and Trent Lusignan (Shakopee) and Aaron Umhoeffer (Mankato West).
Predictions:
1.) Mahad Hassan (Willmar)
2.) Andrew Nicklawsky (Willmar)
3.) Kyle Schmidt (Hutchinson)
4.) Zac Mellon (Buffalo)
5.) Mohammed Hussein (Willmar)
6.) Ben Rodriguez (Buffalo)
7.) Tom Hall (Mankato East)
8.) Pat Bigaouette (Chaska)
9.) Ben Sathre (Chaska)
10.) Aaron Umhoeffer (Mankato West)
Team:
1.) Willmar
2.) Buffalo
3.) Chaska
4.) Hutchinson
5.) Mankato West
On the girls side there seems to also be a clear favorite to win in the Chaska girls who were third last year and return all top 7 runners from their squad. The real battle will likely be for second amongst a group of teams including Hutchinson, Shakopee, Marshall, New Prague, Mankato East, Willmar, Buffalo and Mound Westonka.
Individually, just like on the boys side, the race is for MN#4 Laura Hughes (Mankato West) to lose. She is back to defend her title from last year. The other top runners competing for the section title will be one of the great 2AA runners to compete in senior Brooke Wyffels (Marshall) and then freshman Julia Harrison (Mound Westonka). Other runners competing for the top 10 and right to go to state individually will be Jenna Urick (Chaska), Alissa Retterath (Hutchinson), Paige Sotirin (Mound Westonka), Katie Oden (Buffalo), Alexis Boyd and Emily VanKeulen (Marshall), Anna Neu (Shakopee), Jackie Johnson (Willmar) and Anna Rynda and Amanda Wagner (New Prague).
Predictions:
1.) Laura Hughes (Mankato West)
2.) Brooke Wyffels (Marshall)
3.) Julia Harrison (Mound Westonka)
4.) Alissa Retterath (Hutchinson)
5.) Anna Neu (Shakopee)
6.) Jenna Urick (Chaska)
7.) Paige Sotirin (Mound Westonka)
8.) Kelsey Junget (Chaska)
9.) Jackie Johnson (Willmar)
10.) Emily VanKeulen (Marshall)
Team:
1.) Chaska
2.) Mankato East
3.) Willmar
4.) Marshall
5.) Hutchinson