Minnesota State High School Championships Preview
February 14, 2001
This Thursday and Friday, February 15-16, is the Minnesota
State High School Nordic Championships at Giants Ridge in
Biwabik, MN.
Schedule of Events
- Thursday, 2 pm: Coaches Association Relay - Girls 4X3K
- Thursday, 2:45 pm: Coaches Association Relay - Boys 4X3K
- Thursday, 6 pm: Coaches Association - Banquet and Awards
ceremony
- Friday, 10 am: State Meet - Boys Classical race
- Friday, 11 am: State Meet - Girls Classical race
- Friday, 1:30 pm: State Meet - Boys Pursuit (freestyle)
race
- Friday, 2:30 pm: State Meet - Girls Pursuit (freestyle)
race
- Friday afternoon: State Meet - Awards ceremony after the
races
Coaches Association Relay
The big state meet celebration kicks off Thursday afternoon
with the Coaches Association Relay. Over 20 boys and girls teams,
translating to well over 200 skiers, will be competing in the
relays. The relays offer teams that might not be competing in
the state meet on Friday a chance to race on the same trails
and be part of the excitement of the big event.
Teams tentatively scheduled for the relay:
- Boys: Alexandria, Eden Prairie, Irondale, St. Paul Harding,
Osseo, Prior Lake, Forest Lake, Henry Sibley, St Thomas,
Grand Rapids, Mounds View, Fergus Falls, Duluth East, Two
Harbors (2), Bemidji, White Bear Lake, Champlin Park, Hopkins,
St. Louis Park, Park Center, Little Falls, Marshall, Roseville,
Elk River,
- Girls: Alexandria, Eden Prairie, Jefferson, Irondale,
Osseo, Prior Lake, Forest Lake, Henry Sibley, Coon Rapids,
Grand Rapids, Mounds View, Mesabi East (2), Visitation,
Duluth East, Two Harbors, Bemidji, White Bear Lake, Champlin
Park, Park Center, Hopkins, St Louis Park, Little Falls,
Marshall, Roseville, Elk River, Bloomington Jefferson
State Meet Favorites
With more than 80 teams in the state and well over a thousand
skiers, it gets a little hard to keep track of them all. Here
is our take on some of the favorites in the State Meet on Friday.
But as they say in football, "Any Given Sunday" -- that's why
they hold the race!
Anders Osthus (#1), and Bjorn Batdorf (#2) warming
up for the pursuit start at the Section 8 Championships,
February 10, Giants Ridge.
(Photo from Dave Johnson)
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Boys Individual
Anders Osthus, Duluth East, appears to be on track to
repeat again this year. Anders has been on top of the rankings
throughout the year. However, Anders will receive strong competition
from Hopkin's skier, Dan Skold. Dan finished just 19
seconds behind Anders in last year's race.
There are a host of other guys that, with a strong performance,
could upset those two favorites. Steve Scott, SPA,
has had a great year with within biathlon competition, and
returned to the high school scene very strong. Young pup,
Heath Garrett from Winona flew the trails at Murphy-Hanrehan
in the section championships and could uncork another great
race. Giving Anders some competition at the section championships,
Duluth East teammate, Bjorn Batdorf displayed great
late season form. Forest Lake's Bobby Lee, Roseville's
Josh Larson, Hopkin's Josh Lewandowski, and Blaine's Dan Whipple
should also be watched closely.
Heidi Hittner, with Jessica Salvatore shadowing
her, NorAm High School Sprint Quarterfinals, January
26
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Girls Individual
Lindsey vs. Lindsay: Mahtomedi's Lindsey Weier versus
Hastings' Lindsay Williams, with Liz Harrington, Duluth
East ready to glide past for the title. Lindsey and Lindsay
have squared off at least once early this season in a JO meet,
with Lindsey coming out on top again (Lindsey held off Lindsay
in last year's state meet by less than 4 seconds!). This should
be an extremely close competition!
Not to be counted out, White Bear Lake's Heidi Hittner
signaled her intention to challenge with a strong sectional
race, finishing just nine seconds behind Weier. Courtney
Dauwalter, Hopkins, Jessica Salvatore, Roseville, and Jenny
Abraham, SPA, all have the potential to challenge for
the title as well.
Boys Team
This one is a real toss up. With no team having four dominant
horses, it could be a close result with every placing making
a difference. The winning team will most likely come from Roseville,
Winona, or Duluth East, but anything can happen in the State
meet!
Girls Team
Roseville is the odds-on favorite to repeat, bringing
back three of the four skiers from last year's winning team.
Second ranked Hopkins could make a run for the title,
and Duluth East showed it might be peaking for State
with six of its members placing in the top nine at the section
championships.
Related links
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