On Friday all the runners got a chance to go over the course, check out the conditions, and adjust their race plans for tomorrow's NXN Nationals.
The Wayzata girls tour the Portland Meadows course. Photo by Eric Jahn |
Anything that had been soft or liquid yesterday has turned solid. Puddles were ice, mud was frozen, and stretches of long grass were crunchy with lumpy ground underfoot. NXN veterans commented on the conditions they found:
Connor Olson, MSHSL runner-up, said "Anything is better than last year. But the ground is hard and uneven, and it won't race fast. We will probably go with a medium-length spike."
Heartland champion Addison DeHaven of Brookings was much more optimistic. "I think the course record will go down tomorrow. There could be several guys under 15 minutes. I plan to be in position at two miles, and be ready to go when someone makes the move."
Wayzata head coach
The Wayzata girls were encouraged by developments. They surprised last year by a seventh place finish in the slop, and they feel that the arctic conditions plays to their strength. Anna French said "We have already been running in the snow this month. Our race strategy won't change. We will put ourselves in position early and move up through the field."
Edina's Jonathan Shirley models the uniform for today's race. Might want to consider an extra layer under that singlet. |
Also on the squad this year is Alayna Sonnesyn, an elite national-class Nordic skier. She feels that the skiing background that she, French, and Michaela Keller-Miller have will pay off on the slick and icy course at Portland Meadows. Jenna Truedson of
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