Check out the top cross country runners in Minnesota.
| NAME | SCHOOL | YEAR |
| John-Michael Brandt | Winona | Junior |
| Jeremy Drenckhahn | Wayzata | Senior |
| Ryan Evans | Centennial | Senior |
| Mahad Hassan | Willmar | Senior |
| John Holt | Roseville | Senior |
| Kamal Jarso | St. Paul Central | Junior |
| Robel Kebede | Minneapolis South | Senior |
| Jakob Lindaas | Moorhead | Senior |
| Drew Paradis | Alexandria | Senior |
| Thomas Ruttger | Brainerd | Senior |
| NAME | SCHOOL | YEAR |
| Emma Bates | Elk River | Junior |
| Meghan Heuer | Prior Lake | Junior |
| Laura Hughes | Mankato West | Junior |
| Marissa Janning | Watertown-Mayer | Freshman |
| Linda Keller | Paynesville Area | Senior |
| Naomi Landecker | Staples-Motley | Senior |
| Maddie McClellan | Perham | Junior |
| Katie Moraczewski | White Bear Lake | Senior |
| Cassy Opitz | Eden Prairie | Senior |
| Lauren Rice | Holy Family | Senior |
| NAME | SCHOOL | YEAR |
| Jacob Bastyr | Owatonna | Sr. |
| Tom Becker | St. Paul North | Sr. |
| Bobby Davis | Eden Prairie | Sr. |
| Danny Ducharme | Wayzata | Sr. |
| Clayton Foster | Pequot Lakes | Sr. |
| Lukas Gemar | Moorhead | So. |
| Mohamed Hussein | Willmar | Jr. |
| Ethan Marquardt | Albert Lea | Sr. |
| Zach Mellon | Buffalo | Sr. |
| Pat Richie | Grand Rapids | Sr. |
| Adam Schmidt | Andover | Sr. |
| Ryan Tholen | Tracy/Milroy/Balaton | Sr. |
| Eric Truedson | Bemidji | Sr. |
| Andrew Wasz | Wayzata | Sr. |
| Lucas Zenk | Stillwater | Sr. |
| NAME | SCHOOL | YEAR |
| Abby Anderson | Perham | Jr. |
| Tess Boucher | Alexandria | Jr. |
| Kaylea Brase | Centennial | Sr. |
| Laura Docherty | Cretin-Derham Hall | Sr. |
| Rachel Drake | White Bear Lake | Sr. |
| Anne Ferguson | Eastview | So. |
| Julia Harrison | Mound-Westonka | So. |
| Sarah Heuer | Prior Lake | Sr. |
| Emily Meese | Minnetonka | Sr. |
| Becca Nichols | Lakeville South | Sr. |
| Jamie Piepenburg | Alexandria | Fr. |
| Megan Platner | Eden Prairie | So. |
| Maria Theisen | Southwest | Sr. |
| Maria Tinebra | Burnsville | Sr. |
| Michelle Volz | Lakeville North | Sr. |
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS
MAHAD HASSAN
Hassan was one of the best runners in the state last
year but sat fourth behind three national-caliber
runners. This year, Hassan should challenge for the
state title and earn some national accolades as well.
ROBEL KEBEDE
Two years after Hasan Mead captured a state title
and finished fourth at the Foot Locker Cross Country
Championships, Minneapolis South has another
runner who could contend in both races.
LAURA HUGHES
Minnesota's best chance to send a girl to a national
title race is Hughes. As a sophomore she won the
Class AA state meet, then fared well at the Foot
Locker Midwest Regional as the state's top finisher.
LINDA KELLER
Keller will have a Class A individual title to defend
this season. She cruised to victory at last year's state
meet, winning by 13 seconds. If she's challenged
this year, she might be even faster.
COACH'S TAKE
AN AREA COACH ON CASSY OPITZ:
"She's a pretty fast runner, for sure. I could really
see her going for the state title this year. She's a
take-charge kind of girl who likes to run at the
front of the pack."
Featured Profiles
Sneakersensei
- How do the Georgia Bulldogs find their way into the heart of a confirmed New York (and Syracuse) fan? Have at him! More
