Cross Country State Meet, 2022: Advance Release

Six races in three enrollment classes are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5 at St. Olaf College in Northfield, host of the Minnesota State High School League’s Cross Country State Meet. Here is a look at the meet:

Class AAA

Girls, 9:30 a.m.

Qualifying teams --- Farmington, Northfield, Minnetonka, Prior Lake, Eastview, Eagan, Woodbury, Stillwater, Mounds View, Roseville, Wayzata, Hopkins, Forest Lake, Centennial, Brainerd, St. Michael-Albertville.

Edina, the 2021 team champion, did not qualify. Wayzata is top-ranked and tagged as the team to beat. The Trojans were runner-up to the Hornets last season. Minnetonka, the No. 2-ranked team in Class AAA, is in pursuit, too.  

Individual --- Wayzata senior Abbey Nechanicky is the strong favorite here. Last month, she recorded the second fastest time ever for girls at 5,000 meters with a time of 16:43.7 in winning the Section 6AAA crown. She did not run the meet in 2021 because of a season-ending injury. Nechanicky, who has committed to run at the University of Colorado, is the third-ranked runner nationally.

Boys, 10:30 a.m.

Qualifying teams --- Lakeville North, Lakeville South, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Rosemount, Bloomington Jefferson, Stillwater, Woodbury, Mounds View, Roseville, Wayzata, Minneapolis Washburn, Centennial, Blaine, Buffalo, Bemidji.

Wayzata is top-ranked and the defending big-school champion. Lakeville North is ranked second and Rosemount, third.

Individual --- Minnetonka senior Nick Giles led the Skippers to the Section 2AAA with a victory in the individual race. He is the defending state champion. Robbinsdale Armstrong senior Noah Breker has the fastest time this season with a clocking of 14:57.20 on Sept. 9 at the Hopkins Invitational. Breker, the Class AAA runner-up to Giles in 2021, finished fourth in the Section 6AAA individual race.

Class A

Girls, Noon

Qualifying teams --- Lake City, Rochester Lourdes, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, Sibley East, Murray County Central/Fulda, Canby/Minneota, Nova Classical Academy, Minnehaha Academy, St. Cloud Cathedral, Northwest, Staples-Motley, Wadena-Deer Creek, Carlton/Wrenshall, Ely, Perham, Hawley.

Staples-Motley is the returning champion and enters the meet as the top-ranked program in Class A. Perham, the runner-up in 2021, is ranked No. 2 and Park Rapids Area is third.

Individual --- This could be the best race of the day. It is expected to be a duel between Murray County Central senior Amanda Overgaauw and Nevis senior Jade Rpkema. They are ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively. Overgaauw is the defending Class A champion. Rypkema, who has committed to run at Gonzaga, won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter events in track this past spring. Rypkema has the second fastest time in Minnesota this season behind Nechanicky and Overgaauw is third quickest. Rypkema is in Box 6 to start and Overgaauw is in Box 14.  

Boys, 1 p.m.

Qualifying teams --- Cotter, Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson/Houston, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial/Nicollet, Mankato Loyola/Cleveland, Luverne, Redwood Valley, Heritage Christian Academy, Minnehaha Academy, St. John’s Prep, St. Cloud Cathedral, Staples-Motley, Bertha-Hewitt, Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin, Moose Lake/Willow River/Barnum, Perham, Park Rapids.

Heritage Christian Academy is considered the favorite in the Class A boys field. Perham, a longtime program filled with a successful tradition, is ranked No. 2 and also in the field.

Individual --- Henry Karalitz helped power Nova Classical Academy to the state crown in 2021 with a runner-up finish in the individual race. He is the top-ranked individual in Class A and Sauk Centre senior Brandon Kampsen is No. 2. He placed third in 2021.

Class AA

Girls, 2:30 p.m.

Qualifying teams --- Waseca, Faribault, Marshall, New Prague, St. Paul Highland Park, Two Rivers, Chisago Lakes, Mahtomedi, Becker, Monticello, Delano, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Hibbing, Rock Ridge, Alexandria, Willmar.

St. Paul Highland Park is the defending Class AA team champion and is favored to repeat. The Lady Scots are the Section 3AA champion. Look for Marshall and Alexandria to make pose a challenge here.

Individual ---  Hutchinson sophomore Isabelle Schmitz is the defending Class AA champion and is ranked No. 2 entering the state meet. St. Paul Highland Park junior Luna Scorzelli is a favorite here.

Boys, 3:30 p.m.

Qualifying teams --- Albert Lea, Winona, Mankato East, Belle Plaine, Two Rivers, St. Paul Highland Park, St. Paul Como Park, Totino-Grace, Big Lake, Monticello, Delano, Orono, Rock Ridge, Grand Rapids, Alexandria, Fergus Falls.

Big Lake was the 2021 team champion and is favorite to successfully defend its crown. Last season, Mankato East, which placed eighth as a team last season, is ranked No. 2. Two Rivers High School could be in the team hunt, too.

Individual --- Belle Plaine senior Emmett Gerres, who placed eighth overall in 2021, is the top-ranked boys runner in Class AA. Annandale sophomore Sal Wirth, third overall last season, is ranked second.