State cross-country meet: Four story lines

1 2A BOYS: CAN GEMAR REPEAT? The only defending champion in today's field is Moorhead junior Lukas Gemar in 2A boys. A year ago he became just the second sophomore in 30 years to win a big-school state title. He won't sneak up on anybody today, but he is not ranked among the top seven runners in 2A. He brings a No. 8 ranking, partly based on his 11th-place finish at the Roy Griak Invitational boys' Maroon race in late September. Gemar was the sixth Minnesotan to finish that race. The 2A rankings are led by Eden Prairie senior Aaron Bartnik, Bloomington Jefferson senior Jake Sandry and Woodbury senior Marty Joyce. Wayzata, the two-time defending champ, is ranked No. 2, behind Eden Prairie.

2 2A GIRLS: YOUTH IS BEING SERVED Only one senior is ranked among the top 10 in 2A girls, and that's No. 2 Emma Bates of Elk River. She finished seventh last year, third as a sophomore and 12th as a freshman. The top-ranked runner is Shakopee freshman Maria Hauger, who was the ninth-place runner at state a year ago. Sartell's Heidi Peterson is ranked No. 3; she is one of just three juniors among the top 10. Eden Prairie placed third in the team race in 2006, second in 2007 and won the title in 2008. The top-ranked Eagles are favored to win another crown, but they will be pushed. Ranked behind them in the top five are Elk River, Roseville, Shakopee and Lakeville South.

3 1A BOYS: KOULLICK IS NO. 1 Blake senior Paul Koullick, the third-place finisher last year at state, is the highest returning place-winner among 1A boys. He also carries the No. 1 ranking, which marks him as the runner to beat today. Koullick was the third Minnesotan to cross the finish line at the Griak, behind two 2A runners. Ranked second is Annandale senior Connor Gjerve, who placed fourth at state last year. Perham is the top-ranked team, and the Yellowjackets know all about the state meet; they were state champs in 2006 and 2007 and finished second behind Blake last year. Minnehaha Academy and Plainville-Elgin-Millville are ranked second and third.

4 1A GIRLS: MCCLELLAN KNOWS THE ROUTE No runner among 1A girls will carry as much experience into today's race as top-ranked Perham senior Maddie McClellan. She placed sixth as a freshman, fourth as a sophomore and third as a junior, so you know she's smelling a gold medal. McClellan made a big statement at the Griak as the highest-finishing Minnesotan; she was sixth behind runners from Iowa, Missouri and Colorado. Ranked second is Adrian freshman Jordan Kopplow, followed by Fairmont sophomore Lauren Friese. Waseca is the top-ranked team, followed by Perham and Adrian.