Shakopee girl wins fourth 2A title, thank you

Shakopee senior Maria Hauger absorbed her share of goodwill walking around the Skoglund Athletic Center at St. Olaf College on Saturday.

"People kept saying, 'Good luck, good luck,'" Hauger said. "I think I said, 'Thank you,' about 100 times."

Cross-country fans responded in kind, cheering Hauger toward her prep career's historic finish. Hauger won her fourth consecutive Class 2A state title and her time of 13 minutes, 42 seconds smashed the previous all-time record of 13:54.7 set by Holy Family's Bria Wetsch in the 2005 Class 1A race.

Encouraged by her time at the 2-mile mark, Hauger dug in for a record final push in the 4,000-meter race. She got mixed signals from the ovation near the finish line.

"Whenever people are cheering so loud I always worry someone's coming," Hauger said with a laugh. Second-place finisher Anna French of Wayzata was 15.6 seconds behind.

If history is any indication, the next runner who will challenge Hauger is wearing diapers. The last runner to claim four or more consecutive titles was five-time winner Carrie Tollefson of Dawson-Boyd (1990-94). Only two of her victories came in 2A races.

Hauger wouldn't fully disclose her short list of college options but said Minnesota is one of five schools she is considering.

Class 2A boysStillwater's school colors are red and black, but the Ponies hit the course in pursuit of their second consecutive state title donning more striking colors.

"Everybody and their brother is red and black," Stillwater coach Scott Christensen said. "I said, 'We want something we can see,' and the people at Nike said, 'How about highway safety orange?'"

Orange shirts and green shorts turned these Ponies into horses of a different color, but the performances were strong again. Led by individual champion Wayde Hall, Stillwater claimed its first back-to-back titles since winning three consecutive from 1995 to 1997.

Stillwater scored 46 points, well ahead of Edina (80) and Wayzata (90). First-year cross-country runner Obsa Ali of Richfield was second behind Hall, and Hopkins sophomore Joe Klecker placed third.

Saturday's race was the nine-week anniversary of Stillwater's two-point loss to rival Wayzata at the season's first meet. Christensen responded by driving the Ponies harder toward their goals.

Hall said his winning run of 15:21 "was all about maintaining through the first mile or two, making sure I'm in the lead pack and really turning it on the last half-mile."

Eric Colvin's ninth-place finish (fifth among runners from qualifying teams), gave the Ponies needed firepower up top.

"You have to put two in the top 10 to be a legitimate championship contender," Christensen said. "We've had good teams, but we haven't always had the big closers up front. Now we've got them, and that's the difference."

Class 1A girlsBlake senior Clare Flanagan needed time to compose herself after winning the Class 1A individual race. She conquered the 4,000-meter course in 14:04.1, securing a second consecutive title she found tougher to defend than to chase.

"I think emotionally it took more out of me," Flanagan said. "I really wanted to defend it. You're a lot more cautious when you have that expectation."

Flanagan gained separation with about 1,000 meters to go and kept her pace despite heavy legs.

"I feel relieved; I feel happy," she said.

Trost was the runner-up for the second consecutive year. Holt finished third. Esko (115 points) won the team title with Annandale (150) edging Minnehaha Academy (151) for second place.

Class 1A boysProctor senior Matt Welch honored his team's nickname, the Rails, by winning the Class 1A individual title.

Welch chugged like an engine to the finish line in 15:34, feeling right at home on St. Olaf's lumpy course.

Senior Charlie Lawrence of Foley took second, reversing the friendly rivals' fortunes from the 3,200 in last spring's track and field state meet. Lawrence edged Welch by less than one second.