Mounds View boys edge Eden Prairie for first 2A cross-country championship

NORTHFIELD, MINN. – Mounds View cross-country coach Ross Fleming, who just completed his 34th season, once brought a hazmat suit to the team banquet as a gag gift for a senior runner who developed poison ivy during the season.

On Saturday, after his Mustangs earned the program's first Class 2A state championship, Fleming's wise guy persona disappeared. He hugged runners and their parents, shook hands with coaching peers and wept tears of joy in a less-guarded moment.

Mounds View edged top-ranked Eden Prairie 86-87 on the 5,000-meter course at St. Olaf College in Northfield. The program's 32nd state appearance finally ended in triumph.

"It's a humbling moment because you realize how little you had to do with it," Fleming said. "Our seven guys were out there getting it done in the trenches."

Seniors Finn Sokolowski, Alec Nelson and Will Sacay "did their usual stellar, clutch racing," Fleming said, adding that ninth-grader Elliott McArthur "probably had his best race of the season."

Santino Preciado running strong at the fifth spot made the difference.

"He's normally our sixth man and he beat Eden Prairie's fifth man by 15 places," Fleming said.

"After the race, coach Fleming gave us the rundown and told us we won," Preciado said. "I teared up and was jumping up and down. The team wanted to do this for coach Fleming."

On the girls' side, Edina captured its third state title in five years. The Hornets' 55-point finish put them well ahead of Wayzata (109). Sophomore Maggie Wagner, freshman Lauren Cossack, senior Morgan Richter, freshman Mary Velner and sophomore Macy Iyer took spots seven though 16 in team scoring and all finished before Wayzata's second runner.

"We had the tightest pack among the top teams, so we knew had to do it for each other and with each other," Richter said.

Stillwater junior Analee Weaver awoke at 4 a.m. No alarm necessary.

"I was like, 'It's state!' " Weaver said after winning the Class 2A state title. Going back to sleep wasn't happening so she "just sat in my bed, thinking about the course. I was like 'OK, I got it, stay strong.' "

"I started feeling pretty good at the 4K, so I just started pushing it, and upping the pace," Weaver said. "I guess it worked."

There was a talented field, a dusting of snow on parts of the course and a raw wind blowing across the prairie loop portion of the course.

None of it stopped Weaver.

The boys' champion, St. Paul Highland Park senior Oliver Paleen, became the first St. Paul public school champion since the state meet went to 5,000 meters in 1979. He led the Scots to third, best by a capital city public school in 28 years.

He outkicked Eastview senior AJ Green, winner of the past two 800-meter state track and field titles. Paleen won in a time of 15:25.2, ahead of Chanhassen senior Nicholas Scheller (15:30), who also outkicked Green (15:31.8) for second.

"They hate it," Paleen said. "They take videos and you can hear them shouting, 'Don't look back.' "

Paleen reflected on his journey, from 10th last year to champion.

Sitting in the auditorium for the medal presentation last year, Paleen said he "asked my coach, 'A year from now, I want to be the last guy that gets on stage. What's it going to take?' Now we're here."

Spittle clung to the underside of Geno Uhrbom's chin. Dark circles formed under his eyes. He had just emerged from the medical tent, which he entered under the power of two race officials supporting his limp body.

The Class 1A state meet record was Uhrbom's reward for pushing himself to the brink.

"That was the most pain I felt in my whole running career," Uhrbom said. "It was worth it, though."

Focused on a record repeat, Uhrbom worried his brisk 4:41.3 first mile would prove harmful.

"I was like, 'I don't know if I'm going to hold this but it's going to be one hell of a ride if I do,' " he said.

In team competition, the Perham boys won their third consecutive title and eighth overall.

Morgan Gehl of Murray County Central, who placed third in 2018, was the highest returning qualifier in the field. With a goal to take first, Gehl ran on guts and instinct.

Whatever works.

She won in a time of 17:53.5. And Perham earned a third consecutive team title.