Per email from CC Advisory Board. St. Olaf didn't renew their contract to host any longer.
Ouch. I don’t want that to be true. The course at St. Olaf has been great, for both the athletes and spectators. The wide, straight start gives runners room to jockey for position before the first curve. The adjacent field house is great as a shelter against the weather in MN Novembers. The large cafeteria in Buntrock is a great place for real food. Parking has always been something of a challenge for the number of attendees, but it’s at least workable. And the 3,000 seat gym is nice for the awards ceremonies.
I’m trying (and failing) to think of another MN course with anything close to those amenities.
I wonder if the St Olaf Showcase at the beginning of September will still be hosted.
For the last 2 years, almost all of the top boys teams raced there
They are still hosting the showcase. If the weather is nice it's a great meet. Always nice to get on the state course, but they run a great early season meet and we still plan to go
If Southwest gets top 2, it wouldn’t be surprising at all.
They return a solid fab 4 in Scott, Batalden, Meyer and Ueland.
Their 5th and 6th nonseniors ran in the low 18s at NXR but Meyer went from low 18s last year to a sub-16 this year. So if someone else makes a big jump like this they will be a powerhouse
They also have a freshman who appears to be new to the sport who ran a 18:48 at Heartland which isn’t bad at all especially for a freshman
Yes, it is way too early to discuss this, and if you are going to predict Mpls SW to be in the top two, why not give Stillwater a shot at a top three finish? Is everyone afraid of Stillwater?
If Southwest gets top 2, it wouldn’t be surprising at all.
They return a solid fab 4 in Scott, Batalden, Meyer and Ueland.
Their 5th and 6th nonseniors ran in the low 18s at NXR but Meyer went from low 18s last year to a sub-16 this year. So if someone else makes a big jump like this they will be a powerhouse
They also have a freshman who appears to be new to the sport who ran a 18:48 at Heartland which isn’t bad at all especially for a freshman
Yes, it is way too early to discuss this, and if you are going to predict Mpls SW to be in the top two, why not give Stillwater a shot at a top three finish? Is everyone afraid of Stillwater?
Stillwater is losing 3 scorers - Kilibarda, Degonda, and Walsh (and they were only 5 of 6 deep) so it will be hard for them to get top 3. And Suburban East Conference xc times were unusually fast last season. But they always seem to have people stepping up so I wouldn’t count them out. But behind Wayzata, I think that the other candidates (besides Stillwater) for the second and third spot will be: Minnetonka Southwest Mounds View Bloomington Jefferson (only losing Lueth, and had some scorers out at State) But Stillwater will only have ONE senior next year so in 2024 (when they will have many seniors) they will have a good shot at making the podium
Yes, it is way too early to discuss this, and if you are going to predict Mpls SW to be in the top two, why not give Stillwater a shot at a top three finish? Is everyone afraid of Stillwater?
Stillwater is losing 3 scorers - Kilibarda, Degonda, and Walsh (and they were only 5 of 6 deep) so it will be hard for them to get top 3. And Suburban East Conference xc times were unusually fast last season. But they always seem to have people stepping up so I wouldn’t count them out. But behind Wayzata, I think that the other candidates (besides Stillwater) for the second and third spot will be: Minnetonka Southwest Mounds View Bloomington Jefferson (only losing Lueth, and had some scorers out at State) But Stillwater will only have ONE senior next year so in 2024 (when they will have many seniors) they will have a good shot at making the podium
Thank you for responding at least you are not afraid of Stillwater!
Scott Christensen retired as the head CC coach and is in his last season as the Stillwater track coach. It would be hard to imagine that Stillwater pulls off a huge upset and gets top-3 in 2023
Scott Christensen retired as the head CC coach and is in his last season as the Stillwater track coach. It would be hard to imagine that Stillwater pulls off a huge upset and gets top-3 in 2023
Yeah….next cc season, Wayzata wins, and the next 2 podium spots will be a fight between Minnetonka, Mounds View, Minneapolis Southwest, and maybe Jefferson. I don’t see Stillwater beating any of these teams even if Scott was going to coach next year.
Who is going to be the new XC head coach for Stillwater?
Christensen had a unique program that worked for him, but I don't see why they couldn't improve with a new coach. It's a big team with a lot of great athletes to work with.
I don’t think a single great runner has come out of Minnesota. They’re all b tier runners. especially high schoolers
You are correct. There were a few mediocre runners though like Garry Bjorklund, Mark Nenow, Steve Plasencia, Steve Holman, Dick Beardsley, Bob Kempainen, Joe Klecker. But I agree no great ones. You have high standards.
I don’t think a single great runner has come out of Minnesota. They’re all b tier runners. especially high schoolers
You are correct. There were a few mediocre runners though like Garry Bjorklund, Mark Nenow, Steve Plasencia, Steve Holman, Dick Beardsley, Bob Kempainen, Joe Klecker. But I agree no great ones. You have high standards.
What about Obsa Ali? And one of the Heath brothers?
Don’t forget about Reed Fischer.
Fun fact: Holman and Obsa went to the same high school
So did Klecker and Fischer (they were HS teammates for a couple of years)
I don’t think a single great runner has come out of Minnesota. They’re all b tier runners. especially high schoolers
You are correct. There were a few mediocre runners though like Garry Bjorklund, Mark Nenow, Steve Plasencia, Steve Holman, Dick Beardsley, Bob Kempainen, Joe Klecker. But I agree no great ones. You have high standards.
I see the new MSHSL enrollment classifications for 2023-24 has Minneapolis South in the range of Class AA for cross country and track, not Class AAA.
They have had good teams in the past, could they become a threat in Class AA?
The question is, if they will make state next year. They haven’t been there for a long time. This is going to depend on what section they get moved to. Their boys varsity XC team had lots of juniors and only 1 senior. Maybe next year it could be the year they qualify.
Perham could maybe win AA in 2024. Their sophomore class is really good
AAA: With Abbey Nechanicky graduating, there won’t be a girl so clearly dominant. With course records at Round Lake, STMA’s home course, Gale Woods, St. Olaf, and Yankton Trail Park (NXR), and with seven consecutive sub-17 races (including her 5K split at the USATF U20 race), she was simply unbeatable through the national meets.
Sydney Drevlow is the heir apparent, but I believe she will have a strong challenger in Norah Hushagen for the next two years. Hushagen ran close behind Drevlow at both State and NXR, and finished ahead of her at NXN.
AA: Luna Scorzelli should repeat at State Champion, unless someone comes out of the wings. She proved her fitness (and her toughness) at NBNI with her 10:26 full 2-Mile (10:22 3200 pace). No other girl in AA was near that last Fall.
A: Things are wide open here. With both Jade Rypkema and Amanda Overgaauw graduating, the clear top-two of the past two seasons leave the small schools class up for grabs.
AAA: With Abbey Nechanicky graduating, there won’t be a girl so clearly dominant. With course records at Round Lake, STMA’s home course, Gale Woods, St. Olaf, and Yankton Trail Park (NXR), and with seven consecutive sub-17 races (including her 5K split at the USATF U20 race), she was simply unbeatable through the national meets.
Sydney Drevlow is the heir apparent, but I believe she will have a strong challenger in Norah Hushagen for the next two years. Hushagen ran close behind Drevlow at both State and NXR, and finished ahead of her at NXN.
AA: Luna Scorzelli should repeat at State Champion, unless someone comes out of the wings. She proved her fitness (and her toughness) at NBNI with her 10:26 full 2-Mile (10:22 3200 pace). No other girl in AA was near that last Fall.
A: Things are wide open here. With both Jade Rypkema and Amanda Overgaauw graduating, the clear top-two of the past two seasons leave the small schools class up for grabs.
I remember when Grobstein used to be close to Drevlow in terms on talent. Both are on the same team and grade
Yes I agree but. Big fries will have to work in summer and put some effort good effort in xc to be top 5 on the Minnetonkas 2023 team. It’s very obtainable, but giving to many predictions now is kinda ridiculous. Comparing mounds view to Minnetonka prediction times it is close. *prediction for 2023 season* Minnetonka 1. Sean Fries SO, 15:30 2. Tyler Voss SR, 15:50 3. James Thomas JR, 16:00s 4. Loyd Laninga JR, 16:15 5. Parker Barry SR. around 16:20s
Sophomore Owen Chose ran a 9:54 3200.
Soph Downin ran a 9:58 last fall. And a 2:02 this spring.