Eagles, Elks Honored by USATF-Minn.

The Minnesota Association of USA Track & Field isrecently announced that the Eden Prairie boys’ cross country team and the Elk River girls' cross country team are USATF Minnesota's Athletes of the Month for January.

The Eden Prairie boys were recognized for their 14^th-place finish at the 2009 Nike Cross Nationals held in Portland, Oregon last month. The Eagles, which won the 2009 MSHSL Class AA title and were the NXN Heartland Regional champs, tallied 297 points at the meet, which was won by Boerne High School of Texas with 195 points.

The Elk River girls were honored for their 20^th-place finish at NXN. The Elks, who were the MSHSL Class AA girls’ champs last year, scored 418 points in the meet, which was won by Manlius High School of New York with 74 points.

USA Track & Field Minnesota selects Athletes of the Month to honor excellence in track and field and its related sports in Minnesota. USA Track & Field is the governing body of the sport in the United States and the Minnesota Association of USATF sanctions and sponsors track and field, cross country, road racing, and racewalking events for athletes of all ages in the state.