The 2006 boys state AA cross country meet is being claimed as the best race in the past decade or so. Never has there been this many individuals at such a high caliber. Not only is this going to be an awesome individual race, but there is also the US #6 team in the nation competing along with the HL #4 and HL #6 teams too. The team picture seems to have Willmar, US #6, as the obvious choice for team champion as they return their top 4 runners from last years squad and have found a 5th runner who has stepped up big time. The real race will be for second as MN #2 Eden Prarie and MN #3 Rosemountface off again for the 2nd time in a week. At the section meet, Eden Prarie won in a narrow defeat 74-76 over Rosemount.
On the individual side there are numerous runners who will be competing for the top spots. In any other year, most of the top 10 runners would be in the top 3. Hassan Mead (Minneapolis Southwest) comes into the meet undefeated and as MN #1, clearly the favorite to win. Mead moved to MN last spring from Washington and competed in the state track meet, placing 4th in both the 1600 and 3200. Last years champion and MN #2 is senior Elliot Heath (Winona). His only loss of the year has come at the hands of Mead (Faribault). Taking last year off due to injury and placing 2nd as a freshman is junior Rob Finnerty (Burnsville). He has been hampered by an ankle injury throughout the year but should be ready to go for this big meet. The section 6AA champion is Ryan Little (Eden Prarie). This was his first big win of the year as he beat previously mentioned Finnerty and many other strong runners including sr. T.C. Lumbar (Edina, 2nd at state last year), sr. Tom Burke (Edina, 12th at state last year) and sr. Jackson Wiley (Eden Prarie, 13th at state last year). The section 4AA champion was sr. Ben Blakenship (Stillwater, 7th at state), but he is supposedly not competing as he has a stress fracture. The section 2AA champion is sr. Abdi Awale (Willmar, 6th last year) and 2nd place was sr. Kaafi Adeys (Willmar, 4th last year). These 2 runners haven't had any big races this year and come in as dark horses/underrated. The same thing happened last year as no one knew how they'd compete at the state meet. The consensus dark horse goes to section 3AA champion Jonathon Stublaski (Henry Sibley, 9th last year). He has come out of no where this year and has a big win over Blakenship. Many are predicting him to be in the top 6 or 7 overall. Other top runners will be Tyler King (Lakeville North, 10th last year), Paul Hilsen (Lakeville South) and Jordan Carlson (Rosemount, 17th last year). This will be a tremendous meet with plenty of amazing runners. Possibly up to 4 of these runners could qualify for the Footlocker Nationals, held out in San Diego in December. Top 10 at the midwest regional qualify for the National meet. This will truly be a meet to remember for years to come. Race goes off at 2 pm on Saturday. The 2nd place team, if close to Willmar, could garner some points with the NTN committee and move into the HL #3 spot with a great performance
The girls race is loaded with top quality runners and teams as well. Though not the known names of Elizabeth Yetzer or Hannah Grinaker from last year. A new name has emerged this year across the Minnesota scene. Alexandra Gits of Edina came out for cross country for her senior year after having a succesful track season to see what she could do. Well she has proven herself very worthy of being a top runner. She has broken Elizabeth Yetzer's course record at the Lakeville meet earlier in the year along with having only one loss and that was to Danielle Berndt of Bloomington Kennedy. Although Gits had reversed that order and took first at the section 6AA meet last week. Entering the state meet as MN #1 is freshman Laura Hughes from Mankato West. This little mighty runner came into the season as a question mark to some after her phenomenal 8th grade year, but has shown the state that she can do it all, including having a 40+ second victory over MN #6 Brooke Wyffels of Marshall at the section 2AA meet. From section 1, Michelle Volz, Lakeville North and placing 4th last year, will be a dark horse to win the title. A very strong runner is Volz, but her teammate Solange Miller could also surprise a few like she did at Griak this year when she beat Volz and Wyffels. Also Kayla Uphoff of Lakeville South figures to be in contention as well. From section 4AA will be Carolyn Baird, Stillwater, who has been underrated for most of the year, but with a breakout race could crack the top 4 possibly. Also coming from section 6AA who could make some noise will be veteran Emily Schwitzer of Hopkins and Melanie Melander of Eastview. Both of these runners have plenty of state experience and will be hungry to go come 1 pm on Saturday.
On the team side, it will also be a phenomenal race. As we have MN #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8 and #10 all competing on Saturday. The three favorites are #1 Eden Prarie, who are led by a strong front 3 and a tight 4-5 pack. #2 and defending state champions, Lakeville North contains possibly the best 1-2 punch in the state with Volz and Miller. Marshall, who had an off race at sections, also contains a strong lineup, but will need there senior and normal #3 runner, Laura Johnson to regain her form after a disasterous Griak race that she didn't finish. Section 2AA champion, Prior Lake will be the dark horse as they have a very strong 1-4 punch, but are lacking that 5th runner which will be pivotal in this race with plenty of competition. 6AA #2 Minnetonka will also be competing as they have a strong 1,2,3 runners and will need big races from 4 and 5 if they want to be state champions. This will also be a great meet where we could possibly see 1 or 2 of these girls also make Footlocker Nationals and possibly the state champion getting a birth for Nike Team Nationals.
1.) Lakeville North
2.) Eden Prarie
3.) Marshall
4.) Minnetonka
5.) Prior Lake
6.) Woodbury
7.) White Bear Lake
8.) Roseville
9.) Lakeville South
10.) Moorhead
11.) Brainerd
12.)Duluth East
13.) Maple Grove
14.) STMA
15.) Osseo
16.) Eagan
1.) Alex Gits, Edina
2.) Laura Hughes, Mankato West
3.) Michelle Volz, Lakeville North
4.) Brooke Wyffels, Marshall
5.) Danielle Berndt, Bloomington Kennedy
6.) Kayla Uphoff, Lakeville South
7.) Emily Schwitzer, Hopkins
8.) Mackenzie Melander, Eastview
9.) Carolyn Baird, Stillwater
10.) Hilary Noska, Rochester Mayo
11.) Anna Garner, Rochester Mayo
12.) Solange Miller, Lakeville North
13.) Emily Meese, Minnetonka
14.) Katie Moraczewski, White Bear Lake
15.) Cassy Opitz, Eden Prarie
16.) Meghan Heuer, Prior Lake
17.) Sarah Heuer, Prior Lake
18.) Megan Lundgren, Mankato East
19.) Anna Urdahl, Minnetonka
20.) Heidi Peterson, Sartell
21.) Victoria Paulson, Owatonna
22.) Megan Lundgren, Mankato East
23.) Lauren Bleyl, Woodbury
24.) Julia Curry, Woodbury
25.) Abby Tracy, White Bear Lake
26.) Katie Salvatore, Roseville
1.) Hassan Mead, Minneapolis Southwest
2.) Kaafi Adeys, Willmar
3.) Elliot Heath, Winona
4.) Abdi Awale, Willmar
5.) Rob Finnerty, Burnsville
6.) T.C. Lumbar, Edina
7.) Tom Burke, Edina
8.) Ryan Little, Eden Prarie
9.) Jonathon Stublaski, Henry Sibley
10.) Jackson Wiley, Eden Prarie
11.) Tyler King, Lakeville North
12.) Mohammed Bedel, Willmar
13.) Mahad Hassan, Willmar
14.) Jordan Carlson, Rosemount
15.) Paul Hilsen, Lakeville South
16.) Matt Yak, Northfield
17.) Travis Beniak, ZMKW
18.) Chip Sandahl, Burnsville
19.) Mustafa Yusuf, Willmar
20.) Justin Tyner, Brainerd
21.) Nick Saucedo, Henry Sibley
22.) Kyle Schmidt, Hutchinson
23.) Robel Kemede, Minneapolis Southwest
24.) Obei Hussein, Rosemount
25.) Kyle Buck, ZMKW
1.) Willmar
2.) Eden Prarie
3.) Rosemount
4.) Mounds View
5.) Lakeville South
6.) Winona
7.) Robbinsdale Armstrong
8.) Brainerd
9.) Stillwater
10.) Alexandria
11.) North Branch
12.) Henry Sibley
13.) Duluth East
14.) Buffalo
15.) Osseo
16.) Eagan