After 'section of death,' Wayzata boys' cross-country aims higher

Desperation, Wayzata boys' cross-country coach Bill Miles said, pushed his runners into Saturday's state championship meet.

The defending champion Trojans prevailed in Class 2A, Section 6, which Miles said "gets referred to as the section of death." Wayzata, ranked No. 1 in the coaches poll, outran No. 2 Hopkins, No. 3 Edina and No. 5 Minneapolis Washburn.

"We had to bring our A-game to that meet," Miles said. "We're approaching state the same way."

When Wayzata's runners take off at 1 p.m. to cover the 5,000-meter course at St. Olaf College in Northfield, they will bring urgency but also an understanding of their position as favorites.

Only Wayzata's alumni beat the current team this fall. Hopkins and No. 4 Stillwater, the Trojans' best competition at state, each lost three previous races against Wayzata this season.

Variables such as course terrain and training protocols aside, Wayzata saw five of its runners finish last week's section meet faster than Hopkins or Stillwater could get three across the finish line.

Here's a scary thought: Miles said "three or four of our seven guys did not run their best." But he remains concerned about bringing it all together at the state meet.

Wayzata senior Connor Olson, state runner-up a year ago, is among the favorites to win the individual crown. He finished second in the coaches poll behind Hopkins senior Joe Klecker and one spot ahead of Chaska senior Joey Duerr. Wayzata junior Jaret Carpenter and Stillwater senior Bailey Hesse-Withbroe complete the top five.

In Class 1A, two-time defending champion Perham returns. But the Yellowjackets finished fourth in the coaches poll behind fellow state qualifiers Martin County West, Mora and Glencoe-Silver Lake.

Waseca senior Shane Streich, runner-up last year, is ranked No. 1 by coaches. Minnehaha Academy senior Ephraim Bird is second. St. Paul Academy senior Mike Destache is fourth.

In the girls' 4,000-meter competition, Wayzata returns with a third consecutive state title in sight. The Trojans, however, are ranked second behind Willmar in the polls. Edina is third and East Ridge is fifth.

Wayzata's top three runners — senior Anna French, sophomore Annika Lerdall and junior Michaela Keller-Miller — all went sub-15 minutes at the section race last week.

In Class 1A, Trinity School at River Ridge, located in Eagan, is ranked No. 1 in the polls, one spot ahead of defending champion Annandale. The Cardinals return six of the runners from their title team.