Meet six runners who could win Saturday at the high school cross-country state meet

The list ranges from a freshman to a pair of seniors and touches on all three classes.

November 3, 2023 at 7:21PM
Norah Hushagen (left) of Forest Lake and Robert Mechura of Roseville are among the top contenders in the cross-country state meet Saturday. (Alex Kormann, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The high school cross-country state meet left St. Olaf College in Northfield after 30 years and returned to the University of Minnesota's Les Bolstad Golf Course. The half-dozen 5,000-meter races take place Saturday. Here are six runners to watch across the classes:

BOYS

Robert Mechura, junior, Roseville

The one meet out of five this fall where he didn't place first was the Griak Invitational — where he placed third overall and second among Minnesota runners. He placed 38th at state last year but should challenge Class 3A runner-up Sam Scott of Minneapolis Southwest for the top spot.

Sam Scott, senior, Minneapolis Southwest

His racing ledger this fall reads first, first, second, first and first. The most recent victory came in the Class 3A, Section 6 championship race. A year ago, he ran to second at the state meet.

Eddie Snider, junior, Mounds Park Academy

Ran to first at the Class 1A, Section 4 finals less than two seconds ahead of Heritage Christian's Lev Dougherty. The duo will battle again for a state title. Snider has won four of his five races this fall.

GIRLS

Norah Hushagen, junior, Forest Lake

The top-rated runner in the Class 3A cross-country coaches poll won six of her seven races this fall. In the other one, she led the Minnesota contingent with a third-place effort at the Griak Invitational.

Evie Malec, freshman, Minnetonka

Finished ahead of Chanhassen senior Marissa Long at the Class 3A, Section 2 meet. She got faster all season, winning all three of her October races and setting a personal best of 17 minutes, 49.40 seconds at the Lake Conference Championships.

Isabelle Schmitz, senior, Hutchinson

Schmitz, the top-rated runner in the Class 2A cross-country coaches poll and a University of Minnesota commit, is favored to add an individual state championship to her already crowded résumé. She will need to outpace a pair of top runners and St. Paul Highland Park teammates — defending state medalist Luna Scorzelli (rated third) and Grace Lewis-Mosher (fifth).

about the writer

about the writer

David La Vaque

Reporter

David La Vaque is a high school sports reporter who has been the lead high school hockey writer for the Star Tribune since 2010. He is co-author of “Tourney Time,” a book about the history of Minnesota’s boys hockey state tournament published in 2020 and updated in 2024.

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