Four south metro running champs set to race at state meet

The South Suburban Conference quickly is becoming a hotbed for distance runners.

Four cross-country runners — two boys and two girls — representing four different schools, won Class 2A section championships last week. The state meet will be Saturday at St. Olaf College in Northfield.

Seniors Justin Hyytinen of Farmington and Faysal Mahmoud of Burnsville earned boys' titles while senior Anna Van Wyk of Eagan and sophomore Tess Misgen of Shakopee claimed girls' titles. All four have competed in the state meet the previous two years.

Mahmoud and Van Wyk took first place in the Section 3 meet at Valleywood Golf Course in Apple Valley. Mahmoud covered the 5-kilometer course in 15 minutes, 57 seconds. Van Wyk ran for the 4-kilometer course in 15 minutes, 0.3 seconds.

Hyytinen garnered the Section 1 championship at Brooktree Golf Course in Owatonna with a winning time of 16 minutes, 3.3 seconds.

Misgen was victorious at Lake Marion Park in Hutchinson. She finished with a winning time of 14 minutes, 1.7 seconds.

Both Mahmoud and Misgen were ranked eighth in the final coaches association poll. Hyytinen and Van Wyk weren't ranked.

The Lakers defeated Princeton 7-0 in the quarterfinals and edged Minnetonka 4-3 in the semifinals. They lost to Edina 6-1 in the finals. It was the Hornets' 18th consecutive championship.

Prior Lake's previous best finish was third place in 2012. It wound up fourth a year ago.

Sophomore Savanna Crowell also competed in the singles division of the individual tournament. She won her first-round match before being eliminated in the quarterfinals.

The duo of juniors Chloe Hall and Grayce Petersen competed in the doubles division and also won their first match before losing their next one.

The Lakers, who finished 16-2 overall, only graduate three seniors from this year's squad. They are Dani Keller, Erin Swanson and Alison Wagner.

• Junior quarterback Kamal Martin threw for four touchdowns and ran for a 32-yard score, leading Burnsville past Eastview 46-43 in the Class 6A, Section 3 football quarterfinals. Martin threw touchdown passes of 32, 48, 52 and 57 yards. He also had a key interception late in the game.