Yes/No: NCAA National Cross Country Meets

As in years past, the final week of 2013 collegiate cross county is also the final week of Yes/No for the year.  We will celebrate these conclusions with three different Yes/No questions -- all worth one point apiece.  All three meets (Division I, II and III) are held on the same day - Saturday, November 23rd.

The overall standings in Yes/No are very close and the long race will be decided with one final flurry.  There are nine players within four points of the lead who all have a shot to at least share the title.  The current standings look like this:

Pat Foley - 24
Lori Anne Schwiesow - 23
Dimitri Drekonja - 23
Chris Lundberg - 22
Bill Miles - 21
Mike Henderson - 21
Daniel Gerber - 21
Mary Varney - 21
Andrew Nussbaum - 20

And the final three questions are... 

Yes/No: Will Trent Lusignan finish in the top forty at the Division I National Cross Country Meet?

Yes/No: Will Jennifer Agnew finish in the top seven at the Division II National Cross Country Meet?

Yes/No: Will Chelsea Johnson finish in the top five at the Division III National Cross Country Meet?

Trent Lusignan is a South Dakota State Junior who ran for Shakopee during his high school career.  Lusignan did not qualify for Nationals in 2012, but finished second in the 2013 Midwest Regional to qualify for Nationals this year.  Lusignan has had a great cross country season, winning two meets and finishing 19th at Pre-Nationals.  If he is able to place in the top forty at the National Meet he will be an All-American in 2013

Jennifer Agnew is a senior from the University of Mary and competed for Onamia during high school.  Her twin sister, Melissa Agnew, has used up her eligibility at the University of Mary, but she capped off her career with a seventh place finish at the 2012 Division II National Cross Country Meet.  Jennifer Agnew looks to be following in her sister's footsteps as she not only qualified for Nationals, but did so with a dominating 19 second victory at the Central Regional meet.  She has won four out of five meets during her 2013 cross country season.

Chelsea Johnson finished fifteenth in the 2012 Division III National Meet, and eight of the women that finished ahead of her have graduated.  Johnson is a senior at St. Scholastica and ran for Chisago Lakes in high school.  Just like Agnew, Chelsea Johnson has won all of her 2013 cross country meets except one, and won the Central Regional by a large margin.

All of the 2013 Regional results are found here:
Division I, Division II, Division III

Information on all of the National Cross Country meets can be found HERE.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 10:00 A.M. CDT, Saturday, November 23rd.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.

My Answer:  No, No, Yes

Last week's contest was the final Pick Ten:  The winner of the weekly award was Patrick Eastman with 46 points followed closely by Daniel Gerber with 45.  The final standings show a close finish and Mike Henderson emerged victorious with a grand total of 233 points.  There was a tight contest for second place led by Patrick Eastman with  220 points, followed by Daniel Gerber at 217, and Bryan Tolcser and Rich Cowles (both at 216).

In the five year history of the Pick Ten contest, Mike Henderson has never finished worse than second place at the end of the year.  The Princeton University Director of Operations wins the 2013 Pick Ten award to go with his 2010 and 2012 titles.

PHOTO ID
The correct answer to the Photo ID question last week was Van Nelson at the Drake Relays.  Six players got both components of the question correct, while others answered Van Nelson right but did not know the site of the track meet.  The six answers came from Pat Foley, Rich Cowles, Mike Henderson, Jim Glazer, Bill Miles and Chris Lundberg.  As usual, Bill Miles answered correctly first.

This week's photo

I'm a sub-four minute miler.  A three-time All American.  Excelled in both junior college, where I was a national champion, and Division I.  I'm also a member of an select group who have been recognized for my achievements by USATF Minnesota. Who am I?

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: How many Division II squads from MN will automatically qualify for Nationals?

Area Division II colleges will soon be on their way to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for the Central Regional  Meet and a chance to punch their ticket to the Nationals.  Hosted by Augustana on Saturday, November 9, the event will kick off at 10:30 AM.  The Division II National Championship will be run in Spokane, Washington two weeks after the regional meets.

A formula determines how many teams qualify for Nationals from each region, and this year the Central Region will automatically qualify the top five teams on the men's side and the top four for the women.  The region features many nationally ranked teams, including powerhouse Augustana, which ranks at number six for the men and number twelve for the women.

But we are going to follow the teams from Minnesota this week with the following question...

Yes/No: Will two or more teams from Minnesota automatically qualify for the Division II National Meet?

Make sure to play the Photo ID contest this week as we will be giving an extra point to anyone that answers correctly.

To simplify the yes/no question: we are asking if two or more teams from Minnesota will finish in the top five for Men and/or the top four for women.

In the Central Region rankings, there are zero men's teams in the top ten.  On the women's side, Minnesota-Duluth is ranked first, followed by Winona State in fourth, MSU Moorhead ninth and Minnesota State, Mankato in tenth.

The NSIC Conference Championships were held on 10/26/13 on the same course as the Regional Meet.  The surprise from that meet is that the UMD women upset the Augustana team that was previously ranked fourth in the nation.  Winona State finished third at NSIC and are currently ranked 20th in the country.  In the men's race, Augustana nearly achieved a perfect score, ending with 18 points.  Sioux Falls and University of Mary took the next two spots before a large group of Minnesota teams finished close together:  Minnesota-Duluth, Winona State, MSU-Mankato and MSU-Moorhead were third through seventh.

Augustana swept the men's and women's titles at the 2012 Central Region Champs.  For these results as well as previous year's, click HERE.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 10:30 A.M. CDT, Saturday, November 9.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  No

Last week's fantasy contest was a Pick Ten.  The weekly winner was Toby Hatlevig with 51 points over Bryan Tolcser at 48.  In the overall standings, Mike Henderson still maintains a healthy lead with 191 points.  The chase pack is very tight and led by Bryan Tolcser with 178 followed by Patrick Eastman with 174, Rich Cowles - 173 and Daniel Gerber at 172 points.

In the yes/no contest, a handful of people earned an extra point this week with a correct answer in the photo ID.  First place is owned by Lori Anne Schiesow with 23 points.  Close behind are Pat Foley and Dimitri Drekonja with 22 points apiece.

PHOTO ID:

The fellow pictured here will be very familiar to a select group of track athletes and coaches.  He's already something of a legend among the group he "teaches."  He's a formerAll American athlete, a coach, and a physics teacher. Who is the guy with the red tie?

Last week's Photo ID answer:  Steve Plasencia...and John Swain

Anyone who answers the photo ID correctly this week will receive an extra point in the Yes/No contest.

Eight individuals answered correctly in last week's photo ID contest:  Pat Foley, Mike Henderson, Rich Cowles, Bill Miles and Chris Lundberg answered John Swain as the gentleman with Steve Plascensia.  Pat Foley came through with the first correct answer.  We also gave points to anyone who guessed Enger - Toby Hatlevig, Daniel Gerber and Bryan Tolcser. Reason for this is our mistake on the hint offered last week.  The fellow in the photo shaking hands with Steve is John Swain, who the meet was named after.  The guy who the park where the meet is held is Bert Enger.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: How many under Bill Andberg's mark at Grey Ghost 5K?

The 28th annual Anoka Halloween Grey Ghost 5k will take place in the "Halloween Capital of the World"on Saturday.  The Grey Ghost race has something for everyone; some will appreciate the flat, fast course as an opportunity for a personal best.  Others will relish the chance to wear a Halloween costume in a road race.  Even if you simply want to get your run in before the Grand Day Parade in Anoka, this is the race for you.

Before creating this long-time Anoka road race, Bill Andberg made his mark as a world class age-group runner.  He took over 30 years off from competitive running before rejoining the fray at age 55.  During the next 30+ years, he set more than 30 national and world records for his age categories.  Andberg won a gold medal in the first USA Nationals in 1968 (marathon) and in the first World Masters Championships in 1975 (3K and 1500).

We will use one of Andberg's great records as the standard for this week's question..

Yes/No: Will 18 or more runners at the Anoka Grey Ghost run faster than Bill Andberg's (at the time) world age-best 18:33 5k as a 65 year old?

Make sure to play the Photo ID contest this week as we will be giving an extra point to anyone that answers correctly.

To check out previous years Grey Ghost results go to the Appleraceberryjam Road Results Archives page HERE.  Then click on Anoka Grey Ghost 5k Run and All Available (years).

Or if you would rather I do the work for you, here are the number of runners that ran faster than 18:33:
2012 - 23, 2011 - 15, 2010 - 11, 2009 - 13, 2008 - 14, 2007 - 33, 2006 - 25, 2005 - 24, 2004 - 29, 2003 - 34, 2002 - 28, 2001 - 24, 2000 - 47, 1999 - 48.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 12:50 P.M. CDT, Saturday, October 26th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  Yes

The question in last week's Yes/No Contest was: Will more women than men qualify for the 2015 Boston Marathon at the Mankato Marathon on Sunday?  The answer was no -- by my count, 35 men ran a Boston qualifier while 21 women achieved that goal.  The men's winner was Eric Thies and the women's race was won by Amy Halseth.   Nine players answered correctly this week and Dimitri Drekonja tied Lori Anne Schwiesow in first place with 22 points.  Mary Varney has 21 points and Pat Foley is at 20 points.

Photo ID

This week's "mystery man" getting an award
from a "mystery woman." If you can identify
one, you'll probably know them both.
Photo by Jim Ferstle

Showing his sense of humor.  The button
reads: "I did it in Gottenburg," a reference to the
location of one of the Masters Championships
in which he competed.  Photo by Jim Ferstle

This running legend was something of a triple threat in his youth.  He snow shoed, he ran, and he bowled.  He was a champion in all three.  Part of his legend was training in a cemetary during his senior years because back then because running around in shorts and a singlet was not a common site, especially for the "senior" population.  One of his compatriots, Dr. Alex Ratelle used to run at night because he didn't want to be seen in the daylight for fear of what the neighbors would think. Who is this unmasked man?  Who is the woman in the top photo presenting him with an award?

Last week's Photo ID answer:  Dennis Barker

After two weeks of introduction to our new contest, this time we will increase the stakes.  Anyone who answers the photo ID correctly this week will receive an extra point in the Yes/No contest.

Nine individuals answered correctly in last week's photo ID contest:  Mike Henderson, Rich Cowles, Toby Hatlevig, Andrew Bolland, Daniel Gerber, Jim Glazer, Kevin Ueland, Pat Foley and Patrick Eastman.  Andrew Bolland came through with the first correct answer.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: Who will qualify for Boston at the Mankato Marathon?

For athletes interested in a Fall marathon, qualifying for Boston can be the perfect motivating goal.  The 2014 Boston Marathon was such a hot ticket event that the Boston Athletic Association increased the field size by 9000 to 36,000 entrants.  Even with the extra slots, the race filled up very quickly.

Bringing things back to Minnesota, the Mankato Marathon is a Boston Qualifier that runners can use to get into the 119th edition of the historic event, scheduled for April 20th, 2015.

The Mankato Marathon is in its fourth year.  The weekend of races includes a marathon, half-marathon, 10K, 5K and kids' race, and will feature about 5000 total runners.

This week will feature a battle of the sexes.  Let us know who will have more Boston qualifiers with this question...

Yes/No: Will more women than men qualify for the 2015 Boston Marathon at the Mankato Marathon on Sunday?

We will use these standards for the question this week.  The actual Boston qualifying times may end up being slightly different.

Age	Men	Women
18-34	3:05	3:35
35-39	3:10	3:40
40-44	3:15	3:45
45-49	3:25	3:55
50-54	3:30	4:00
55-59	3:40	4:10
60-64	3:55	4:25
65-69	4:10	4:40
70-74	4:25	4:55
75-79	4:40	5:10
80+	4:55	5:25

Find more information on the race at these links:
- Mankato Marathon
- Mankato Marathon previous results
- Top three finishers - 2012
- Top three finishers - 2011
- Top three finishers - 2010
- Mankato Marathon course map

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 8:00 A.M. CDT, Sunday, October 20th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  Yes

The question in last week's Yes/No Contest was: Will a runner from Collegeville Track Club take first place overall at the Battle Creek Challenge 8k on October 12th?  The answer was no -- Joe Moore led four  Twin Cities Track Club athletes across the finish line in front of top Collegeville runner Kelly Fermoyle.   Fifteen players answered correctly this week and Lori Anne Schwiesow took over first place with 22 points.  Mary Varney and Dimitri Drekonja are next with 21, followed by Pat Foley at 20 points.

Photo ID

This week's Photo ID is of a man affectionately known as D-Dawg by some of those he associates with these days.  His roots are in St. James, MN where he had a successful initiation into the sport in high school.  He wandered south of the border for college to Iowa State.  This photo was taken when he was at Golden Valley Lutheran College, where he spent time before and after Iowa State.

The questions for this week's Photo ID:  Who is this person?  What is he doing now?

Last week's photo ID featured Cretin High's Don Hurley winning the State Cross Country Championship. Don's son, Keeghan Hurley, runs for Perham HS and is the number one ranked Class A boys runner thus far this XC season.  Don went to the University of Minnesota where he was an All American and flirted with a career as a professional runner after college.

Five individuals answered correctly in last week's photo ID contest:  Jesse Schoen, Mike Henderson, Rich Cowles, Chris Lundberg and Toby Hatlevig.  Jesse Schoen sent in the first correct answer.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: Who will win the Battle Creek Challenge? Who is in this Picture?

Once again this year, USA Track and Field Minnesota is sponsoring a Cross Country Circuit. The competition will consist of four races, taking place in October and November.  Teams that are registered with USATF-Minnesota will earn points for each race, and scores will be compiled at the end of the year.

Kicking off the circuit is an 8k race at Battle Creek in St. Paul on Saturday.  The race is hosted by Collegeville Track Club and is billed as a "great tune up for off road races in the fall, including Living History Farms Race and USATF Club Nationals."  The race will be run on the cross country ski trails and prizes will be awarded to top individuals, teams, and age-group winners.  If you plan to race, sign up early—the registration is capped at 100 runners.

Regardless of whether you plan to race, you can answer this week's question about the Battle Creek Challenge 8k...

Yes/No: Will a runner from Collegeville Track Club take first place overall at the Battle Creek Challenge 8k on October 12th?

Collegeville traditionally has done well in the USATF-MN Cross Country Circuit.  But it is difficult to know who will show up for the first cross country race of the circuit, especially because so many area runners ran a hard race six days prior at the Twin Cities Marathon events.

After the Battle Creek Challenge, the next race on the Cross Country Circuit is Jack's Twillight Run on 10/26, followed by USATF-MN Cross Country Championships on 11/3.  The Circuit concludes with Rocky's Run on 11/10.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 9:00 A.M. CDT, Saturday, October 12th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  Yes

PHOTO ID
We're thinking of trying a new type of quiz format.  Photo ID.  We'll publish a photo and ask you to identify things in the photo.  This week's selection will be "extra credit."  It's not a straight ID as much as it is something of a test of what you've read in the past few weeks on the site.  The athlete here is finishing a race in 1977.  The first part of the question is easy:  What race is this?  The second is who is the athlete finishing?  Some hints.  He ran for a St. Paul High School.  His son is currently running on a successful high school team in Minnesota.  So, who is this athlete?  What school did he compete for?  What race is he winning?

The question in last week's Yes/No Contest was: Will two or more current Minnesota residents finish in the top eight of the USA Marathon Championships (Men, Women, Masters Men and Masters Women)?  The answer was yes this week and fourteen players answered correctly this week.
Dimitri Drekonja joined Mary Varney and Lori Anne Schwiesow in first place with 21.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: Will two Minnesotans finish in the top eight at USA Marathon Championships?

The USA Championships return to the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon this weekend, where there will be four Championship races:  The men's and women's marathons and the masters men's and women's marathons.  The 32nd annual race will begin in Minneapolis and finish in St. Paul on Sunday morning.  The 15th Medtronic TC 10 Mile is also run on Sunday morning and both of these are preceded by a variety of races on Saturday morning for runners of all ages.

We think Minnesotans have the home turf advantage.  Let us know what you think with the question below...

Yes/No: Will two or more current Minnesota residents finish in the top eight of the USA Marathon Championships (Men, Women, Masters Men and Masters Women)?

To further clarify the question -- the two do not have to finish in the top eight in the same category.  For example, the answer would be yes if one woman and one from the masters men category finished in the top eight in their individual races.  Also, we will use the state next to the runners name in the results as the official current residence for that athlete.

The strongest contender in all the USA Championships has to be Meghan Peyton.  She is a recent USA Champion -- she won the 20k title in early September.  Peyton is something of a marathon novice; she has never finished a race at that distance.  However, she comes to the race in a midst of a hot streak and extreme fitness.  Read about her training in a Running Times interview HERE.

Another top runner competing in the Women's USA Championships is Michelle Lilienthal.  She finished fourth in the 2006 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.  The Men's masters race include Kelly Mortenson and Lance Elliot.   Mortenson finished twelfth in the 2000 Olympic Trials Marathon and Elliot has run as fast as 4:22 for a mile as a masters competitor.

A few other Minnesotans to keep an eye on include: Dan Greeno, Justin Grunewald, Chris Lundstrom, Jeff Renlund and Paula Vicker.

Read about the top contenders in the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon press release HERE.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 8:00 A.M. CDT, Sunday, October 6th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  No

Last week there was a Pick Ten Contest regarding the Griak Invitational.  Mike Henderson was the weekly winner with 27 points.  Tied for second was Chris Lundberg and Daniel Gerber with 22 points each.  The overall leader is still Mike Henderson -- he stretched out his lead this week and now has 152 points, 16 ahead of the pack.

In the Yes/No Contest, Mary Varney and Lori Anne Schwiesow are in first place with 21.  Dimitri Drekonja is now one point back at twenty points, while Pat Foley has 19.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: Four questions on the Milaca Mega Meet

The Yes/No Contest will continue the tour of big high school invitationals.  Last week we covered the Lakeville Applejack Invitational and now we will turn our focus to the Milaca Mega Meet -- the meet known as "the largest high school cross country meet in the United States."

There is a twist this week in the Yes/No Contest:  We will ask four questions and your job is to pick one and answer that question.  Find the question that you are most confident answering and send in your response.

Let's get right to the questions...

Yes/No#1: Will any of the varsity races (girls and boys, all four classes) course records be broken this weekend at the Milaca Mega Meet?

Yes/No#2: Will any varsity team score fewer than 35 points at the Milaca Mega Meet?

Yes/No#3: Will ten or more boys break 16:00 in the Varsity Boys 5000 Meters (adding up all four classes combined) at the Milaca Mega Meet?

Yes/No#4: In the varsity races (girls and boys, all four classes) will a runner from a Minnesota take first place individually in all eight races?

Remember that you only answer one question.  Find the question that you feel the most confident about and indicate clearly in your e-mail which one you are answering.

For general information on the Mega Meet visit the meet's information page HERE.  Apple Raceberry Jam has results from Milaca Mega Meet 2003 - 2012 HERE.  Search on Milaca Mega Meet and either choose a year or click "all available" to see all prior results.

Here are some additional Mega Meet links to help you answer the question:
- Milaca Mega Meet Course Records
- Ranked Teams/Individuals in the meet
- Mega Meet Schedule
- List of AAAA schools
- List of AAA schools
- List of AA schools
- List of A schools

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 11:55 A.M. CDT, Saturday, September 21st.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answers:  #1 - No.  #2 - No.  #3 - Yes.   #4 - Yes

The last question was:  Will ten or more girls break 15:00 in the Varsity Girls 4000 Meters at the Lakeville North Applejack Invitational? The answer was yes - twelve girls broke 15:00 led by Anna Van Wyk of Eagan.  It was a tough question this week only eleven people answered correctly.  Dimitri Drekonja moved in a tie for first place, sharing the honors with Mary Varney and Lori Anne Schwiesow.  Pat Foley remains one point back and has nineteen points.
For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: How many girls under 15 minutes at Lakeville North Applejack Invitational?

High School Cross Country action is heating up as the big early-season invitationals are in full force.  This week the Lakeville North Applejack Invitational is being held on Friday.  As usual, there will be many highly ranked individuals and teams from around the state ready to clash.  One big difference in the girl's race is that they will crown a new individual champion.

Three-time defending champ and course record holder Maria Hauger has graduated and moved on to the University of Virginia.  In addition, two-time runner-up Danielle Anderson is now at the University of Minnesota, which means the race will be wide open for a breakthrough from some young runner in 2013.

The boy's race should be very interesting as well, featuring top-ranked individual Obsa Ali of Richfield.  But we will follow the girl's individual race this year at the Applejack Invite.

Take your guess at how fast it will run this year with the question of the week...

Yes/No: Will ten or more girls break 15:00 in the Varsity Girls 4000 Meters at the Lakeville North Applejack Invitational?

Recent results show that ten girls broke 15:00 in 2012 and eleven were under the mark in 2011.  Prior to that the numbers were much smaller with only two girls under fifteen minutes in 2010, five in 2009 and 2 again in 2008.

Many ranked Class AA girls teams will square off including #2 East Ridge, #3 Eagan, #6 Edina, #7 Forest Lake, #8 Lakeville South and Prior Lake (unranked this week, but #12 last week).

Top ranked individuals will be there as well.  From Class AA:  #5 Bailey Ness - East Ridge, #7 Tess Misgen - Shakopee, #11 Anna Van Wyk - Eagan.  Also Class A is represented by a duo from Luverne:  #2 Madison Schandelmeier and #10 Maykala Hohn.

For more information, consult these sites:

- Lakeville Applejack Invitational
- Current State Coaches Rankings
- 2012 Applejack Results
- 2011 Applejack Results
- 2010 Applejack Results
- 2009 Applejack Results
- 2008 Applejack Results

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 5:30 P.M. CDT, Friday, September 13th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  No

The last question was:  Will anyone break the men's or women's event records in the Grandma's Marathon Minnesota Mile on Sunday? The answer was yes - with a nice breeze at their backs, many runners broke the course record including winners Ben Blankenship and Gabriele Anderson.  Thirteen people answered correctly this week.  The top of the leaderboard remained the same led by Lori Anne Schwiesow and Mary Varney tied for first with twenty points.   They are followed closely by Pat Foley and Dimitri Drekonja with nineteen points.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: Minnesota Mile Records Broken on Sunday?

Longtime executive director of Grandma's Marathon, Scott Keenan, recently passed the torch to new interim executive director Jon Carlson.  Carlson will take the reins just in time for the Grandma's Minnesota Mile this weekend.  Keenan started the Minnesota Mile in the early 1980s and was the second mile road race to be hosted in the United States at that time.  That race ran for seven years and was discontinued until 2006.

The new version of the Minnesota Mile is now in its seventh year.  The race is the fourteenth and final race on the 2013 Bring Back the Mile Tour and will be run in downtown Duluth on Superior Street.

This race attracts an elite field including Team USA MN athletes Gabriele Anderson and Heather Kampf.  The event records were both set in 2010:  3:58.18 (Aron Rono) and 4:35.60 (Carmen Douma-Hussar).

Let us know how fast the leaders will run with this question...

Yes/No: Will anyone break the men's or women's event records in the Grandma's Marathon Minnesota Mile on Sunday?

Heather Kampf is the 2012 Minnesota Mile women's champion and has won multiple road miles this year including the Bermuda Mile, the Ryan Shay Mile, the Liberty Mile and the Michigan Mile.  She won the 2012 Minnesota Mile in 4:37 and has a road best of 4:27.

Gabriele Anderson has a road mile best of 4:26 and finished second in the 2012 Minnesota Mile, running 4:38.  Anderson set a new personal best in the 1500 this summer at 4:01.48.

Here are some links for more information:
- Grandma's Minnesota Mile
- Results from Minnesota Mile 2008 - 2012
- Bring back the mile
- Minnesota Mile Elite Field

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 10:20 A.M. CDT, Sunday, September 8th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  No

The last question was:  Will three or more runners from Minnesota finish in the top ten (men or women) of the USATF 20k Championships at New Haven? The answer was no - Meghan Peyton won the race on the women's side, but no other Minnesotan finished in the top ten.  Sixteen people answered correctly this week.  Lori Anne Schwiesow and Mary Varney are tied for first with nineteen points.   They are followed closely by Pat Foley and Dimitri Drekonja with eighteen points.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: Three Minnesotans in the top ten at USATF 20k Championships?

This Labor Day, the USA Running Circuit (USARC) will make a stop in New Haven, Connecticut for the USATF 20k Championships.  The 36th Annual Stratton Faxon New Haven Road Race has attracted a strong domestic field, including top Americans Matt Tegenkamp, Abdi Abdirahman and Alisha Williams.

Several Minnesotans stand to challenge the leaders, including Kelly Brinkman, Stephanie Price, Meghan Peyton, Melissa Gacek and Andrew Carlson.

Minnesotans have historically run well at New Haven.  How will they run in 2013?  Let us know what you think...

Yes/No: Will three or more runners from Minnesota finish in the top ten (men or women) of the USATF 20k Championships at New Haven?

In 2012, Katie McGregor was the only Minnesotan in the top ten.  However in 2011, Jason Lehmkuhle finished second, McGregor was third, Andrew Carson was sixth and Meghan Peyton finished seventh.

Here are some links for more information:
- Team USA Minnesota press release
- USATF 20k Championship
- 2013 Entries
- New Haven 20k
- 2012 Results
- 2011 Results

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 7:40 A.M. CDT, Monday, September 2nd.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  No

The last question was:  Will Wally Ellenson medal (finish in the top three) at the Pan Am Junior Championship in the High Jump? The answer was yes - not only did Ellenson finish in the top three, he placed first.  Fourteen people answered correctly this week.  Lori Anne Schwiesow and Mary Varney are tied for first with eighteen points.   They are followed closely by Pat Foley and Dimitri Drekonja with seventeen points.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: Will Wally Ellenson make the podium at Pan Am Juniors?

The last Yes/No question centered on former Gopher basketball and track and field athlete Liz Podominick.  This week, it feels only natural to turn our attention to current Gopher basketball and track and field athlete Wally Ellenson.  He may not have reached the same level of stardom as Podominick, but he certainly made a splash in his freshman year as a high jumper.

Ellenson finished eighth in the NCAA Outdoor Championships and second in the USA Junior Outdoor Championships.  According to the IAAF World Juniors list, he is currently tied for the third best mark in the world with his 7'2.5" jump (2.20 meters) at the NCAA Championships.

Wally Ellenson will travel to Medellin, Columbia for the Pan Am Junior Championships this weekend. (Maggie Ewen is also taking part, competing in the discus.) This meet is held every two years for track and field athletes nineteen years old or younger from the Americas.  Some of the best athletes in the world, of all time, have competed and won at this meet, including Carl Lewis, Javier Sotomayor and Usain Bolt.

How will Ellenson compete against this strong competition?  Let us know what you think with this question...

Yes/No: Will Wally Ellenson medal (finish in the top three) at the Pan Am Junior Championship in the High Jump?

Ellenson actually comes into the meet with the highest jump in the field this year at 2.20 meters.  However, three other jumpers are just a tick behind at 2.19 meters (Justin Fondren from the United States, Christoff Bryan from Jamaica and Alhaji Mansaray from Canada).

Heat Sheets are not available yet, but check these sites for more information on the meet as the week goes on:
 - Pan Am Juniors
 - Runnerspace
- USATF

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 3:30 P.M. CDT, Sunday, August 25th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  Yes

The last question was:  Will Liz Podominick qualify for the finals in the discus at the World Championships on Saturday? The answer was no - Liz Podominick finished in 21st place in the qualifying round.  Twelve people answered correctly this week.  Lori Anne Schwiesow and Mary Varney are tied for first with eighteen points.   Two points back are Pat Foley and Dimitri Drekonja at sixteen points.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: Will Podominick make the discus finals at Moscow WC?

The excitement of the IAAF World Championships is to be had in Moscow this weekend.  The nine day event is exclusive to the best in the world, and this year that elite crowd includes Lakeville native Liz Podominick.  She set a personal best and hit the "A" standard earlier in the year with a 204'5" throw in the discus.  Following that performance, Podominick punched her ticket to Moscow with a third place finish at the USA Champs.

The World Championships will be Podominick's first senior international team and she will compete alongside her USA teammate Gia Lewis-Smallwood (who may be in the hunt for a medal).  The discus will be a competitive event and it features the incomparable Sandra Perkovic from Croatia as the odds-on favorite.

Let us know where Podominick will end up with this week's question...

Yes/No: Will Liz Podominick qualify for the finals in the discus at the World Championships on Saturday?

The discus qualifying rounds are held on Saturday and the finals are Sunday.  Twelve athletes will qualify for finals.  In the 2011 World Championships, the last qualifier threw 196'8" to make finals.

Liz Podominick graduated from Lakeville High School as one of the best female prep track and field athletes in state history and one of the most decorated female basketball players in state history.  She went on to make her mark at the University of Minnesota in both sports.  She is currently training in Oregon with Mac Wilkins.

The heat sheets will appear on the IAAF site later this week.  Here is some more information about the event:
- IAAF preview of the discus
- Track and Field News - 2013 Outdoor List

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 12:30 A.M. CDT, Saturday, August 10th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  Yes

Last week's question was:  Will four or more women run faster than 1:30:00 at the Urban Wildland Half Marathon on Saturday?  The answer was no - two runners broke 1:30.  Carrie Donohoe won the race in 1:27:05 and Angie Voight ran 1:29:17.  Only nine people answered correctly this week.  Lori Anne Schwiesow is pulling away and now leads with eighteen points.  Mary Varney is second with with seventeen points and tied for third place with fifteen points include Pat Foley and Dimitri Drekonja.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: Four women under 1:30 at Urban Wildland Half-Marathon?

The Urban Wildland Half-Marathon and 5K, advertised as Minnesota's Green Race, celebrates its eleventh year in 2013.  All materials used for the race will be recycled, reused or composted.  The race starts and ends at Veterans Memorial Park, taking runners on a tour of Richfield.

Terry Hitchcock, who ran the equivalent of a marathon each day for 75 consecutive days in 1996, will serve as Grand Marshal for this year's event.

Along with all the festivities, there is some good running.  This week we will follow the top women in the Urban Wildland Half Marathon with this question...

Yes/No: Will four or more women run faster than 1:30:00 at the Urban Wildland Half Marathon on Saturday?

Last year, Kelly Brinkman set a new course record, running 1:19:26.  In 2012, three women broke 1:30.  In 2011 there was only one and there were four each in 2010 and 2009.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 7:00 A.M. CDT, Saturday, August 3rd.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  Yes

Last week's question was:  Will Mike Bialick finish in the top ten overall at the Burning River 100 Mile Endurance Run on Saturday? The answer was no - Bialick was in the top ten through half-way but ended up dropping out.  Only eight people answered correctly this week.  Lori Anne Schwiesow and Mary Varney continue to lead with seventeen points and are now three points up on the field.  Tied for third place with fourteen points include Pat Foley, Dimitri Drekonja and Mike Henderson.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: Mike Bialick in the top ten at Burning River 100?

The Burning River 100 Mile Endurance Run is playing host to the USA 100 Mile Trail National Championships in 2013.  The interesting name traces back to the 1969 fire in the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio.  The Burning River 100 Mile is run along the banks of the same river in Northeast Ohio. For a satirical reference to the event, you can listen to Randy Newman's song Burn On from his Sail Away album:

"Now the Lord can make you tumble
And the Lord can make you turn
And the Lord can make you overflow
But the Lord can't make you burn"

There are two Minnesota runners listed on entries page -- Macarthur Rivard of Cedar and Mike Bialick of Minnetonka.

We will follow former University of Minnesota runner Bialick with our question this week...

Yes/No: Will Mike Bialick finish in the top ten overall at the Burning River 100 Mile Endurance Run on Saturday?

Mike Bialick has personal bests of 14:35 and 30:35 on the track and has run a 2:31 marathon.  He started showing up in the ultra-marathon results in 2012.  Some of his 2012 races include: third place at the Afton 50k, second at the TNF Madison 50 Mile and finally eighth at the JFK 50 in Maryland.  In 2013, Bialick finished fifth at the Ice Age Trail 50.  The Burning River 100 will be his debut at that distance.

To look up previous results from the Burning River 100 Mile, click on the Results tab on the race home page, HERE.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 4:00 A.M. CDT, Saturday, July 27th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  Yes

Last week's question was:  Will Lance Elliott win the Main Street Mile at the Hopkins Raspberry Run on Sunday?  The answer was no - Elliot took third in 4:32.  Sixteen people answered correctly this week.  Lori Anne Schwiesow and Mary Varney continue to lead with sixteen points.  Pat Foley holds down second place with fourteen points.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: Will Lance Elliott win the Hopkins Raspberry Run Mile?

Most runners in Minnesota are familiar with the Hopkins Raspberry Run 5 mile race.  It has been around since 1964 and many top Minnesota runners have graced the leader board over the years.  Runners may not be as aware of the Main Street Mile, started in 2010 as a companion to the longer 5 mile Raspberry Run.  The Main Street Mile is a flat, straight course that shares a finish area with the 5 miler.

The race has been won in 4:22 each of the last two years by young local runners.  John Lapham won in 2011 and Josh Thorson took the title last year.  This year, masters superstar Lance Elliot is going to join the fray.  His best mile as a masters runner also happens to be 4:22.

Will youth or experience triumph at the Main Street Mile?  Let us know what you think...

Yes/No: Will Lance Elliott win the Main Street Mile at the Hopkins Raspberry Run on Sunday?

Lance Elliot continues to run very fast times in middle distance races.  His latest results came from the USA Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships last week.  He ran the 800 in 2:00.85 and the 1500 in 4:14.84.  Elliot lists his masters bests at 4:02 for 1500 and 4:22 for the mile.  In college, he ran 3:45 for 1500 and 4:04 for the mile.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 11:59 A.M. CDT, Sunday, July 21st.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  Yes

Last week's question was:  Will there be two or more Minnesotans that finish in the top three in the M70 1500 meters at the Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships?  The answer was no - Minnesotans took three of the top five spots, but they ended up second, fourth and fifth.  Sherwood Sagedahl led the way with a second place run, finishing in 5:54.   Thirteen people answered correctly this week.  Lori Anne Schwiesow and Mary Varney continue to lead with fifteen points.  Pat Foley and Jim Glazer are next in line with thirteen points.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: How will the Minnesotans fare in the M70 - 1500 Meters at USA Masters?

The 2013 USA Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held this week in Olathe, Kansas, from July 11th through July 14th.  Minnesota will have strong representation at the event, led by masters world record holder Sherwood Sagedahl.

Sagedahl headlines a trio of Minnesotans looking for gold in the men's M70 1500 meters.  This group is the focus of the question this week...

Yes/No: Will there be two or more Minnesotans that finish in the top three in the M70 1500 meters at the Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships?

The three Minnesotans in the M70 1500 meters are Sherwood Sagedahl, Thom Weddle and Rick Kleyman.  The M70 age bracket is for athletes who are between 70 and 74 years old.  There are eight runners listed in this race.  Sagedahl has the fastest seed time - 5:45.  The next fastest is Joe Wilcox from Hawaii at 6:20 and Kleyman at 6:28.  The rest of the runners in the race do not have seed times.

Sagedahl is the defending champion in this race.  He appears to be competing in the pentathlon, javelin and 200 meters as well this week.  Sagedahl and Weddle are 74 years old while Kleyman is 73.  In the 2012 USA Masters Outdoor Championships, Sagedahl won with a time of 5:46 and Weddle was third in 6:07.    Kleyman did not run the 1500 at this meet in 2012.

Here is some additional information from the USATF website:
- Schedule
- Entries
- 2012 Results

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 8:00 A.M. CDT, Sunday, July 14th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  No

Last week's question was:  Will Amanda Smock triple jump 46 feet or further on Friday at the OTC Meet in Chula Vista?  The answer was no - Amanda Smock won the OTC meet and jumped 45'10".   Twelve people answered correctly this week.  Lori Anne Schwiesow and Mary Varney continue to lead with fourteen points.  Mike Henderson, Pat Foley, Dylan Dragswiek and Jim Glazer are next in line with twelve points.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: Will Amanda Smock triple jump over 46 feet at OTC Meet?

A strong argument could be made that Amanda Smock is one of the best current US track and field athletes with a connection to Minnesota.  Smock is a four-time USA National Champion in the triple jump and she competed in both the 2012 Olympics and the 2011 World Championships.  She is at it again in 2013 -- Smock finished third at USA Outdoors which gives her a shot at competing in the 2013 World Championships.

The qualifying process is a bit complicated, but essentially if Smock can match the "B" qualifier (46 feet, 7 1/4 inches) and neither of the top two finishers in the 2013 USA triple jump hits that mark, then Smock will go to the World Championships.  The other route would be to jump the "A" qualifier (47 feet, 3 inches) and not have to worry about other qualifiers.  Smock's current best in the triple jump is 46 feet, 6 1/4 inches.

Amanda Smock is set to chase these marks throughout July, starting with an OTC Meet in Chula Vista, California on Friday.

Yes/No: Will Amanda Smock triple jump 46 feet or further on Friday at the OTC Meet in Chula Vista?

Amanda Smock attended high school in Melrose.  She went on to become a three-time National Champion in the Triple Jump at North Dakota State University.  Smock's third place finish at 2013 USA Outdoor Nationals came with a jump of 45' 2.25" and indoors, she won 2013 USA Nationals with a jump of 44' 9.5".

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 9:00 P.M. CDT, Friday, July 5th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  Yes

Last week's question was:  Will three or more Minnesota athletes finish among the top three in his/her event at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championship?  The answer was no - Amanda Smock and Liz Podominick both finished third.   Twelve people answered correctly this week.  Lori Anne Schwiesow and Mary Varney continue to lead with thirteen points.  Dylan Dragswiek is second with twelve points.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: Will three or more Minnesotans finish in top three at USA Champs?

The USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships are coming to our own Midwest region this week.  Held in Des Moines, only about four hours south of the Twin Cities, the meet's results will determine which athletes go on to compete in the World Championships in Moscow, Russia, later this summer.

Specifically, the top three athletes in each event will earn World Championship qualifications (although there is also a complicated A and B qualifying standard that must be achieved).  The contenders include several with Minnesota ties.

Regardless of whether you can make it to Des Moines for the weekend, we hope you'll follow the action with our question of the week...

Yes/No: Will three or more Minnesota athletes finish among the top three in his/her event at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championship?

We will use the final results whenever they become official.  If someone gets disqualified a week (or a year) later, that will not impact our results.  Also, we are not including the USA Juniors in this contest.  A Minnesota athlete is anyone that either resides in Minnesota currently or spent a significant amount of time in Minnesota in the past.

Here is a list of Minnesotans seeded in the top ten in an event (let us know if we missed anyone):  Garrett Heath - fourth in the 1500, Will Leer - fifth in the 1500,  Hassan Mead - seventh in the 5K,
Garrett Heath - ninth in the 5K, Will Leer - tenth in the 5K, Gabriele Anderson - sixth in the 1500, Kara Goucher - fourth in the 10K, Danielle Stack - ninth in the 10K, Jamie Cheever - first in the SC, Amanda Smock - second in the TJ and Elizabeth Podominick - second in the DT.

Here are the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championship Start lists for heats and finals, Entries and Schedule.  You don't need it for this quiz, but the junior Start list is HERE.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 3:00 P.M. CDT, Thursday, June 20th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  No

Last week's question was:  Will there be three or more individual Championship events where a Minnesota athlete finishes in the top six?   The answer was no - Maggie Ewen was a double winner, but no other athlete was able to crack the top six.   Tough question this week -- only four people answered correctly.  Lori Anne Schwiesow and Mary Varney lead with twelve points.  There are four players tied for second place with eleven points each.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: Three Events with Minnesotan in Top Six at New Balance Nationals?

Last week's Minnesota State Meet crowned our top high school athletes.  A handful of these competitors will continue their season with the New Balance National Outdoors in Greensboro, North Carolina June 14-16.  This meet serves as the High School National Championship and many of the best current US athletes previously competed at this meet.  This list includes superstars such as Sanya Richards-Ross, Amy Acuff, LaShawn Merritt, Ryan Whiting and Dathan Ritzenhein.

Four MN athletes will compete individually in the "Championship" events.  Clare Flanagan, Maria Hauger, and Danielle Anderson are entered in the 2 Mile.  Anderson and Hauger are entered in the 5K.  Maggie Ewen will compete in the Shot Put and Discus and Grant Krieger is in the Pole Vault.

Let us know how Minnesota's best will stack up against the rest of the country...

Yes/No: Will there be three or more individual Championship events where a Minnesota athlete finishes in the top six?

To further explain the question:  If an athlete finishes in the top six in two events it would count for two even though it's the same athlete.  For example if Maria Hauger finishes in the top six in both the 5K and 2 Mile that would count for two events.  Or if Maggie Ewen finishes in the top six in the shot put but not in the discus, it would count for one event.

Here are some links on the New Balance National Outdoors:
- Schedule of Events
- Entry List
- History

And here are some National rankings:
- dyestat
- athletic.net
- milesplit.com


To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 7:00 P.M. CDT, Friday, June 14th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  Yes

Last week's question was:  Will six or more All-Time Minnesota State Meet Records be broken at the MSHSL Meet this week?   The answer was yes - seven All-Time State Meet Records went down.  The records all came from the AA side:  Boys 4x200, 400, 3200 and Pole Vault plus the girls 4x100, Pole Vault and Shot Put.   Eighteen people answered correctly this week and Lori Anne Schwiesow and Mary Varney lead with twelve points.  There are three players tied for second place with eleven points each.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Yes/No: Six or more All-Time State Meet Records broken at MSHSL Meet?

The Minnesota High School track and field season culminates with the State Meet at Hamline University on Friday and Saturday.  The meet kicks off with Class AA Prelims at 9:00 A.M on Friday.  The Class A Prelims start at at 3:30 (or later if the Class AA meet runs long).  Saturday follows the same schedule with Class AA Finals beginning at 9:00 and the Class A Finals at 3:30.

Twenty-two individual champions will return to defend titles in 2013.  This may be the last chance to see some decorated seniors compete for his or her high school team.  Shakopee senior Maria Hauger is the defending 1600 and 3200 meter champion in Class AA (she also happens to hold four individual state titles in cross country).  Senior Maggie Ewen, an all-time great graduating from St. Francis, has three consecutive state discus titles and two shot put titles to her name.  Ewen also holds the Minnesota State All-Time Record in the discus.

Speaking of Minnesota State Records, here is the question of the week...

Yes/No: Will six or more All-Time Minnesota State Meet Records be broken at the MSHSL Meet this week?

The All-Time State Meet records are defined as the best mark at a State Meet in either Class AA and Class A.  In the 2012 results, it is the record written as "MN All Time."  We are not asking about the separate Class AA and Class A records.  Nor are we asking about the Minnesota All-Time Best marks that can occur anytime during the season.  Lastly, as wheelchair events were only added last year, we will not include their record count in this contest.

Some notable athletes with the potential to break records based on their seed times include: Wayzata's 4x200 boys team, the Stillwater duo of Eric Colvin and Wayde Hall in the 3200, Michael Valli and Tyler Tappe in the Pole Vault, Taylor Anderson and Wensia Johnson in the girls 100, Taylor Weibke and Caraline Slattery in the High Jump, Niara Hall in the Triple Jump, Clare Flanagan and Emi Trost in the 1600 and Maggie Ewen in the discus.

Heat sheets for the meet are here...Boys * Girls

The 2012 Results are here...AA Boys * A Boys * AA Girls * A Girls

Apple Raceberry Jam lists Minnesota High School Honor Rolls with the top times for the entire season HERE

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 9:00 A.M. CDT, Friday, June 7th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  Yes

Last week's question was:  Will Hassan Mead run 13:15.00 or faster at the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday?   The answer was no - Mead ran 13:32.73.  Eleven people answered correctly this week and Lori Anne Schwiesow and Mary Varney lead with eleven points.  There are six contestants tied for second place with ten points each.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.