MN XC 2025 thread

This makes an utter lack of sense. Alumni meets aren’t even MSHSL sanctioned.

What moron decided this? Same guy who decided that MN should be like the only state that can't go to out of state meets?

Could also be the same guy who can’t figure out where to have the state meet after the Les Bolstad course is sold

Here are my top 15 teams for Class A boys/girls:

Boys:

1. Cotter
2. LA/RP/H
3. Nova Classical
4. Heritage Christian
5. Litchfield
6. Mounds Park
7. Sauk Centre
8. Bertha-Hewitt
9. G/N/K
10. Redwood Valley
11. NW Nighthawks
12. Hawley XC
13. Park Rapids
14. Holdingford
15. Sibley East

Same top 3 as MN Reve. Cotter easily 1st with 3 of the top 4 returners in the class. LA/RP/H 2nd after getting 4th last year and just losing their #2 and had good track season.

Next tier is Nova, Heritage, Litchfield, and MPA all together (with 3 of the teams in the same section).

Sauk Centre, Bertha-Hewitt, and GNK all in the next tier with an okay top 5 but zero depth.

Defending champs Redwood Valley loses 5 of top 7 but still at #10 since they have a huge team (for Class A) and will reload well for at least next year. 2024 runner-up Luverne loses 6 of top 7 and shouldn't be a factor this year.

Girls:

1. St. Cloud Cathedral
2. Redwood Valley
3. United North Central
4. Rochester Lourdes
5. Hawley XC
6. Staples-Motley
7. St. John's Prep
8. Trinity/Unity
9. Lanesboro/Fillmore
10. Cotter
11. Heritage Christian
12. Loyola-Cleveland
13. G/N/K
14. Providence Academy
15. Carlton-Wrenshall

Last year, Cathedral has ranked #1 all year but ended up 6th in a rough state meet. They only lose their #7, so clear top team again.

Tight battle for 2nd-5th but leaning RV in the runner-up spot. Strong top 4 and trusting they find a young 5th.

Staples and St. Johns Prep at 6/7 since they have the top 2 runners in the state and don't lose much from last year. Defending champs Cotter down to 10th since they lose 4 of their top 7.

Any feedback or changes for A? Will do this same top 15 breakdown for AA and AAA before season starts.

Boys looks solid. I think you're pretty spot on with your assessment there, though looking at track seasons I would give it to Nova over LA/RP/H. Litchfield had a pretty weak showing in track...I think I'd put Mounds Park in front of them. Bertha-Hewitt loads up well and has Rach as a leader, so I'd probably place them in front of Sauk (Wiehoff had a monster track season but Drevlow must've had issues and they're not deep). I can see the arguments the other way, though. Boys is a lot clearer to me than girls.

I think girls is going to be all over the map, but the team I think you're missing is Minnewaska. They had a hell of a track season, return everyone, and should be quite strong. I'd rank them sixth at worst. I don't think there's a clear number one this year as Cathedral had a pretty lackluster track season and don't have a clear top 20 girl in the state. I'd also put Cotter quite a bit higher (looking at track season and assuming they can recruit), Redwood Valley lower than UNC, and then throw my hands up and say anyone in the top 10 could win.

When did that rule come? (MN can’t race at out of state meets)

Edina competes at an event in Iowa every year. Sometimes Jefferson does too

MSHSL bylaw 411.00 provides the requirements for out of state activities.

It might no be a rule in XC. I know it is in track. Technically you can compete in Iowa, Wisconsin and the Dakotas in track but MN athletes can't go to Acadia because of that rule.

Are there any Somali runners in Minnesota? I know back when I was running they were doing pretty well

Heard an interesting rumor that the state league has reached out to Canterbury Park in regards to using their turf track as the state course. Spectators could sit in the stands and they have parking for everyone. Evidently they've talked with Ohio officials who did something similar with an European style setup of a repeating loops.

How big is the grass loop at Canterbury? I don’t love this, but have seen it for some European championships. Didn’t they do this for worlds?

Roughly a mile, I think the dirt is a mile and grass is a bit shorter. This is a terrible idea though.

I have run a 5K on the Canterbury grounds before and I don't like this option at all. The 5K started with a half lap on the turf track and the track is extremely soft, very difficult to run on. A track meant for horses is not a good option for high school runners. Plus it is a flat track with no hills or terrain, not a true Cross Country experience.

Sounds too much like track for me. But I wouldn't put anything past the State League. They need to do the right thing and go back to St. Olaf. Olaf will for sure want the meet back. All private colleges need revenue and this will help raise the profile of their program again.

I still like the idea of racing at Carleton. They’re hosting the National championship, so we should want to be on that caliber of course. I’d think we could park at the golf course and walk onto the course.

Seems like Minnesota teams aren’t as strong as in the past.

Just about all of the top boys MN teams graduated a lot of people last year.
And even last year, the top boys MN team finish at NXR Heartland was 6th place. In the past, Minnesota dominated this region all the time.

Wyzata is looking stronger next year even though they graduate some guys.

Good thoughts! I will have to force Minnewaska on the list. The girl's team battle should be exciting to track!

Coaches clinic was this past weekend. Anyone attend and can provide any insights?

On the website, there is now a PDF of ~10 prospective state meet venues.