Prep athletes of the week

WAYDE HALL

Stillwater, cross-country

Some runners loathe rankings, preferring to remain low-key, with little fanfare and low expectations.

Not Hall. The senior entered the season as the No. 1-ranked runner in Class 2A, heading up a Stillwater team that also was ranked No. 1.

Just the way he wants it.

"I liked being ranked No. 1," Hall said. "Especially being a part of the No. 1 team. It helps to motivate me. I want to live up to it. I don't want something like that to pass by."

Hall and the Ponies lived up to their advance billing at Saturday's Milaca Mega Meet. He won the Class 4A Division race, covering the 5K route at Milaca's Stones Throw Golf Course in a time of 15 minutes, 25.3 seconds. Four teammates finished in the top 15, giving Stillwater a convincing team victory.

"I just wanted to get after it right away," Hall said. "It's a good course to run fast. And there's not a lot of races -- maybe one a week -- so you want to make the most of the opportunities you have."

Hall admitted there was one significant distraction to potentially mar an otherwise perfect day.

"We raced at midday, around 12:45," he said. "There was a lot of food around. One of the hardest parts was holding off on the food until after the race."

KEENAN BAYNARD

Minnehaha Academy, football

The senior running back made sure that Minnehaha Academy's 100th homecoming was a memorable one, rushing for 244 yards and three touchdowns and completing a pass for 39 yards in a 27-12 victory over Breck. Baynard leads the metro in rushing with 747 yards.

TOMMY BENSON

Becker, football

The Bulldogs rolled over previously undefeated Zimmerman 56-22 on the arm of the senior QB. He completed 16 of 18 passes for 388 yards and four touchdowns and added two two-point conversion tosses. Benson has passed for 1,083 yards and 18 touchdowns in four games.

MARIA MICHELS

Benilde-St. Margaret's, soccer

The senior forward scored 10 goals in three victories for the Class 1A, No. 1 Red Knights. She scored five times against Fridley, three times against Cooper and twice in a victory over section rival Holy Family.

NOELLE OLSON

Big Lake, cross-country

Olson, a senior, improved to a 5-0 in meets this season when she won the Class 3A division at the Milaca Mega Meet. Olson covered the 4K distance in a time of 14:22.8.

WYATT SCHMIDT

St. Thomas Academy, football

The senior linebacker is better known as a kicker. Friday, he booted field goals of 37, 38, 25 and the game-winner from 29 yards in a 27-25 victory over Hill-Murray. He also chipped in with three tackles. Schmidt has six field goals this season.

AFTON SOBASKY

St. Croix Lutheran, volleyball

A combination right-side hitter and setter, Sobasky posted back-to-back double-doubles in victories over St. Anthony (13 kills, 21 assists) and Minnehaha Academy (16 kills, 22 assists).

JIM PAULSEN