Folders |
Heartland Region Boys Preseason Rankings 2021Published by
Wayzata Is No. 1 Atop A Logjam In Minnesota, While Wisconsin's Spring Champs Are Back In The Hunt By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor Boys NXR Heartland Preview The first glimpse at elite level racing this fall in Minnesota came a week ago at the St. Olaf College High School Showcase. The boys scores went like this: Wayzata 133 points, Minneapolis Southwest 134 and Minnetonka 136. That results sets the early September in the Heartland region, where Wayzata is a presumptive favorite but quickly finding out that Minnesota is full of teams ready to get started in a more normalized season. Remember, the MSHSL canceled last year's state championship cross country meet for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic and teams are eager to re-engage. Wayzata is a traditional power in Minnesota with nine Nike Cross Nationals appearances. But at the 2019 Heartland regional the team finished 23rd. Coach Mark Popp welcomes back a deep lineup. Six runners ran 4:37 or better in the 1,600 meters last spring. There will no doubt be some shifting in the region as more team show what they are capable of, but for now Minnesota holds the first three spots. SPASH -- that's Stevens Point Area Senior High -- won the May state title in Wisconsin's unusual split 2020-21 calendar. Four months later the team is back at it and trying to maintain continuity despite losing three of the top five to graduation. Nebraska, which has never qualified a team to NXN, has a strong entry in Fremont, which has the core of its 2020 state title team back. Fremont won the Augustana Twilight Meet on Sept 3 at South Dakota's Yankton Trail Park. 1. Wayzata MN. The most iconic singlet in Minnesota cross country is the one to chase this fall. The top four runners from 2020's culiminating event -- Hamza Mohamed, Daniel McCollor, Parker Dietrick and Nick Cichoski -- are all back in the fold this season. Alex Foss and Noah Kaster give the team additional depth and there are a total of 10 guys competing for the seven varsity spots. The improvement of Mohamed and the ability of the pack to keep him in sight could take Wayzata far. 2. Minneapolis Southwest MN. Sophomore Sam Scott ran 15:35 to win the St. Olaf College High School Showcase, showing that he is ready to run with anyone in the state. And his team surprised as well, finishing just a point behind Wayzata. Senior Owen Lindseth is one of the state's best No. 2s, but there was a 41-second gap back to the 3-4 guys, Benjamin Batalden and Ruben Margolis, and another divide to No. 5 man, Nicholas Wyatt. The Lakers' success going forward will hinge on closing those gaps. 3. Minnetonka MN. Junior Nick Gilles was third at St. Olaf and led the Skippers to an impressively competitive third place. Andrew Vos, Ryan Fries, freshman James Thomas, Easton Freed and Max Westerlund all factored into the good start. Minnetonka needs those five to click, though, or it could be in trouble against any of a handul of Minnesota teams. 4. Stevens Point WI. Sophomore Bode Erickson finds himself at the front of the Wisconsin favorites just four months after helping three senior teammates capture the state's spring championship. The team also returns Anthony Adriansen, Zach Scharbarth, James Jacobs and Eric Boettcher and that depth seems to be unmatched by an team in the state. If this group can find a groove again after a disjointed and unusual year, another NXN berth is a real possibility. 5. Fremont NE. The reigning Nebraska champions return five of seven from the squad that scored 58 points and had a five-man compression of 22 seconds. Seniors Carter Waters, Nolan Miller, Braden Taylor and Aaron Ladd are joined by freshman Juan Gonzalez, who fills an important role for a team aiming for a special season. Millard West won't concede an inch in Nebraska and the competition between those two teams could make the state more relevant in the regional discussion than ever. Watchlist |
