Wayzata boys, Edina girls on top in Minnesota

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Eighth grader Anne Fenske of Farmington had a breakout performance at the Minnesota MHSL Cross Country Championships, winning the Class AA girls race in 17:41.5 as she put 35 seconds on the rest of the field.

Fenske was ninth as a seventh grader last year and has taken a big step forward. Her teammate, Lauren Peterson, a sophomore, was second in 18:17.1.

Fenske was seventh in both the 1,600 (4:59.02) and 3,200 (11:03.03) at the Minnesota state track championships as a seventh grader last June.

Edina, however, put four in the top 17 and won the state title for the second year in a row with 45 points. Willmar was second with 58.

Patrick Roos of Edina, fifth last year and the top returning finisher from 2015, won the boys race in 15:36.4. Wayzata’s Khalid Hussein was second in 15:41.8. Seth Eliason of Hopkins, who claimed the Lake Conference and Section 6AA titles, finished fourth.

Wayzata scored 38 points to win its third team championship in four years. Edina was second and defending champ Hopkins did not qualify.

The Fairmont girls topped Perham 84-86 in a very close Class A team battle. Fairmont’s top runner was 25th overall its top five was separated by 38 seconds. Eighth grader Tierney Wolfgram won the A race in 18:23.8.

On the boys side, Mora edged Perham 93-99. Junior Declan Dahlberg of Mounds Park Academy won a very close race with Matt Steiger of La Crescent, 15:57.1 to 15:57.3.

NXN Heartland is next for Minnesota's top teams and individuals, Nov. 13 at Sioux Falls, S.D.