Official Minnesota 2024 Cross Country Thread

Mechura will win and Wayzata will win AAA.

1. Robert Mechura
   
2. William Weber
3. Sean Fries
4. Tyler Flippen
5. Elijah Donaldson
   
6. Jace Haerter
7. Owen Stuwe
8. Boston Peterson
   
9. Casey Poppler
10. Dylan Riniker
11. Vaughn Larson
    
12. Jack Sorensonn

Others: Sander Ohe, Isaac Kolstad, Nate Myer, Will Chose, Caleb Dickel, Zach Danielson, a Jefferson runner (maybe one or both of the Altstatts)

I think Edina can win returning their scoring 5 and top 6, with potentially 3 top 15 runners. Wayzata had a lot of seniors, but they always reload and Weber gives them a very low stick.

Minnetonka is another team to not count out. Last year they took 2nd at state & 4th at NXR and return 4 of their top 6. They return 6 guys under 16:30. They will be senior-heavy like Edina and Wayzata.

If Wayzata wins this year they might be able to 5-peat next year.

They won 3 state titles in a row and their frosh-soph this spring looked like this:

9:55 (10), 9:55 (9), 9:59 (10), 9:59 (10), 10:04 (9), 10:11 (10), 10:23 (9)

For Class AA boys, I think Marshall will win. They took 3rd last year and return all of their scorers. Sal Wirth will win individually

Obviously Mechura has to be the heavy favorite to repeat, he is just dominating MN distance at the moment. I agree that both Weber and Fries should be the next two but after that it seems fairly wide open. Both Haerter and Stuwe had great track seasons and both finished with a faster 3200 time than Fries. After them it was Riniker, Poppler, and Donaldson. Flippen had a great Freshman XC season but didn't run the 3200 in Track and only ran the 1600 a couple times. If I had to take a shot at the top 10 it would look like this:
1. Robert Mechura
2. William Weber
3. Sean Fries
4. Jace Haerter
5. Owen Stuwe
6. Tyler Flippen
7. Elijah Donaldson
8. Casey Poppler
9. Dylan Riniker
10. Vaughn Larson

In AA I agree Sal Wirth is the one to beat with Bjorn Anderson, Sully Anez, and Jack Leuer all in the top 5.

In A I like Eddie Snider to repeat.

For the team title it looks like a 3 team race with Wayzata, Minnetonka, and Edina.

I think we are in for a great season next year. Mechura as NXN contender. Wayzata looking pretty nice. For those who have noted Isabel Pass as a 7th grader. My sister knows her(soccer) and she is gonna be crazy next year.

Wouldn't be surprised if Semmling flipped the script from the state 3200m and took the win. If Mechura times his peak right, definitely has a good shot at the NXN podium. Can't wait til December!

Putz from WI is a contender too. I wonder if he and Mechura are going to race this fall other than at Griak, NXR and NXN

Predictions for top 15 for boys AAA state meet

1. Robert Mechura
2. Will Weber
3. Sean Fries
4. Jace Haerter
5. Owen Stuwe
6. Casey Poppler
7. Tyler Flippen
8. Dylan Riniker
9. Elijah Donaldson
10. Vaughn Larson
11. Jack Sorenson
12. Caleb Dickel
13. Max Salas
14. Wesley Wistrom
15. Quinlan Rundquist

Boys Class AAA state meet team predictions
1. Edina
2. Wayzata
3. Minnetonka
4. Mounds View
5. Bloomington Jefferson
6. Stillwater
7. Eden Prairie
8. Two Rivers
9. Buffalo
10. Rosemount

Predictions for Class AAA boys state qualifying teams:
1: Lakeville North & Lakeville South
2: Minnetonka & Eden Prairie
3: Bloomington Jefferson & Rosemount
4: Stillwater & Two Rivers
5: Mounds View & Maple Grove
6: Edina & Wayzata
7: Duluth East & Blaine
8: Buffalo & Moorhead

Another guy that could be a darkhorse is Aaron Peterson from Anoka. He ran a 4:22 & 4:23 1600 and some 800 races but never a 3200. We’ll see how this translates to XC, where he ran a 16:47 last year.

Tapajna was the top Jefferson runner at the state meet. He missed all-state by 4 spots. His 3200 times might not show that he will be all-state but Jefferson seems better at Cross than track

missed all-state by 3* spots.

I wonder if any teams will be able to step up and beat them. I just cant see any but Edina and maybe Minnetonka. I dont think any team has the talent or reloading capacity to square with Wayzata atm.

Edina’s varsity team has been almost the same since Haerter was a sophomore, the year they missed the state meet by 16 points. Now almost all of those guys are going to be seniors.

Class AAA girls state meet predictions
1. Wayzata
2. Prior Lake
3. Forest Lake
4. Eagan
5. Mounds View
6. Duluth East
7. Hopkins
8. Minnetonka
9. STMA
10. Maple Grove

State meet girls team qualifiers
1AAA: Farmington / Owatonna
2AAA: Prior Lake / Minnetonka
3AAA: Eagan / Eastview
4AAA: Woodbury / Two Rivers
5AAA: Mounds View / Maple Grove
6AAA: Wayzata / Hopkins
7AAA: Forest Lake / Duluth East
8AAA: STMA / Moorhead

Class AA Thoughts and Rankings-

First, Section 2AA will be wild again. I have 4 of my preseason top 8 teams out of that section. Real shame. I am still of the belief that each class should get wildcard team to be added to state.

Second, I think Marshall is favorite right now, but definitely not as clear-cut as East was last year. After Marshall, there is a large group of 5 teams which are all legit contenders and could be re-shuffled in any order.

Here are my top 10 pre-season ranks (regardless of section)-
1. Marshall – Marshall is the favorite. Bringing back 5 of the top 50 returners from last year who all ran well in track. 3rd last year and trying to get back to the top like they did in early 2000's.
2. Winona – Their 5th place finish last year was a big surprise and they return everyone. Top 4 broke 17 min at state and had strong track seasons.
3. Perham – Bjorn is stud and got a nice 2-3. Ton of young talent I am buying into.
4. Mankato East – They lose their top 3, but they have reloaded well. I'll give them benefit of the doubt after winning last 2 years.
5. Belle Plaine – Very clear and strong top 5, but no low stick and needs to say healthy
6. Fergus Falls – Returns all 7 guys from last year, similar to BP with no low stick. Best ever finish is 10th, so should crush that.
7. Orono – Brings back 3 top-50 finishers from last year, but will need youth to shine for another top 5 state finish.
8. Mankato West – Solid squad, but still a year away from qualifying from state in their section
9. Becker – Missed state last year, but return a lot including one of the best duos in class. Should be a contender in 2025.
10. Big Lake – Leuer plus a good core of guys

I'll do other AAA/A classes later on, but wanted to show AA some love here

I agree. Any of these teams can win the state meet. And then there will be a gap behind these 3.

All 3 will likely be at Griak, and it’s also worth noting that all of them are in the same conference. 2 of them are in the same section. So these teams will be racing each other a lot.