Stillwater, Monticello Steaming to NXN

Class AA state cross country champions Stillwater and Monticello are driving toward a test on the national stage after wins over the weekend at the Nike Cross Nationals Heartland Regional in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

On the heels of the Heartland title, the Stillwater boys are ranked #5 in the nation-wide XCNation poll, while the Monticello girls hold the same position on the distaff side of the rankings.

Stillwater won the Heartland Regional with 96 points, out-distancing runner-up Heartland Arrowhead of Wisconsin which tallied 104, and third-place Bismarck, North Dakota with 136.

Burnsville finished fourth in the meet with 166; Edina was sixth at 202; Rosemount was seventh at 221; and Wayzata was eighth with 229.

The top Minnesota individual finisher in the meet was Class A runner-up Bandon Clark of Blake, who ran the 5K course in 15:36. Tony Smoragiewicz of Rapid City, South Dakota won the race in 15:20.

In girls' competition, Monticello won the Heartland with 104 points. Neenah, Wisconsin was runner-up with 106, while Dowling Catholic of Iowa was third with 123.

Lakeville South finished seventh with 196; Shakopee -- led by individual champion Maria Hauger was eighth with 210; and Eden Prairie was ninth at 220.

Hauger clocked 17:53, winning by nearly 25-seconds.

Find Nike Cross Nationals Heartland results HERE.

Find the latest XCNation Rankings HERE.