GMLOKS > Head Coaches: Aaron Thauwald (girls), Eric Thorson (boys). 2018 finishes: Girls won SEC meet, boys took second (of 4). Girls took second at 1A True Team, boys eighth (of 15). Returning state qualifiers: Isabelle Olson (4×100), Kassidy Kirtz (4×100), Anika Reiland (4×100, 4×200), Lauren Buchholtz (4×200), Riley Queensland (4×200). Returning Section Meet qualifiers: Queensland (1st 4×200, 4th H-Jump, 5th 4×400, 6th 200), Reiland (1st 4×200, 2nd 4×100, 5th 4×400), Buchholtz (1st 4×200, L-Jump), Hailey Hindt (4th 100-H, 5th 4×400), Olson (2nd 4×100), Kirtz (2nd 4×100), Madison Hindt (7th 100-H), Jordyn Glynn (5th 4×400, T-Jump) Ellie Buchholtz (4×800), Sydney Alstat (4×800), Kendyl Queensland (4×800), Shelby Beck (4×800), Luke Speer (4×200), James Howard (4×200). Synopsis: State qualifiers Drew Lewison (2nd 300-H, 6th 110-H) and Emily Hovden (4×100, 4×200) graduated. Three members each of the state champion 4×200 (Reiland, Buchholtz, Queensland), the 4×100 state qualifier (Olson, Kirtz, Reiland), return. Multi-event section qualifiers Queensland, Reiland, Buchholtz, Glynn, and H-Hindt lead the girls charge. The girls were maybe the favorite for the 2018 Section 1A True Team, but got nipped by LFCMC. With around 30 out, they are again a Section 1A True Team front-runner. The boys have 25 out.
LFCMC > Head Coaches: Alex Aiken (boys), Jana Boyum (girls > new). 2018 finishes: Boys won SEC Meet, girls took second (of 4). Girls won 1A True Team title (advanced to state, took fourth), boys took third (advanced to state via wild card, took tenth). Returning state qualifiers: Emma Breitsprecher (3rd 300-H, 4×400, 100-H), Carson Kiehne (7th 400), Brielle Ruen (4×400). Returning Section Meet qualifiers: Breitsprecher (1st 300-H, 2nd 100-H, 3rd 4×400), Kiehne (2nd 400, 5th 4×200, 6th 4×400), Ruen (3rd 4×400, 4th 4×800, 4th 4×200), Katie Prinsen (7th 800, 4th 4×800), Drew Wyffels (5th 4×200, 6th 4×400), Josh Peters (5th 4×200, 6th 4×400), Kaylee Arndt (4th 4×800), Nate Betz (5th 4×800), Ben Snyder (5th 4×800), Tyler Raaen (5th 4×800), Greysen Higbe-Hurrah (5th P-Vault), J.T. Rein (300-H), Sydney Taylor (Shot). Synopsis: Burro girls are two-time defending 1A True Team champs. State qualifiers Ashley Miner (6th Pole Vault, 7th 4×400, 100) and Bailey Ruen (7th 4×400) graduated. Breitsprecher and Ruen are returning members off last year’s state 7th place 4×400. Breitsprecher, Kiehne, and Ruen are top returning multi-event athletes. The boys in particular will field strong relays. They have around 60 out, the girls around 50. A healthy Kaylee Arndt, a two-sport state qualifier, would be a nice addition to a girls three-peat hope.
RPH > Head Coaches: Dale Moga, Alexa Karavos (both new). 2018 finishes: Girls finished second at TRC Meet, boys fifth (of 10). Girls took third at 1A True Team, boys seventh (of (15). Returning state qualifiers: None. Returning Section Meet qualifiers: Kjersta Hinz (100, 5th 4×100, H-Jump, T-Jump), Triton Meldahl (3rd L-Jump, 4th T-Jump, 110-H), Alex Van Gundy (7th H-Jump, L-Jump, T-Jump), Kaitlyn Bieberdorf (5th 4×100, 5th T-Jump), Allison Papenfus (400, 5th 4×100), Alayna Helgemoe (4×200), Alyvia Eide (4×200), Jenny Albrecht (4×200), Lakyn Rasmussen (4×200), Emma Geiwitz (L-Jump), John Luhmann (H-Jump), Brady Gile (L-Jump), Kaleah Davis (Discus, Shot Put). Synopsis: State qualifiers Cullan Olson (6th Shot) and Nicole Blagsvedt (Shot) graduated. Dale Moga and Alexa Karavos take over for long-time track guy Gary Wade. Multi-event threats Hinz, Meldahl, Van Gundy, Bieberdorf, and Papenfus return to headline 40-plus-person teams. Cross country stand-out Luke O’Hare joins the team.
Chatfield > Head Coach: Jeff DeBuhr. 2018 finishes: Girls took fifth at TRC Meet, boys sixth (of 10). Girls and boys each took fourth (of 15) at Section 1A True Team. Returning individual state qualifiers: None. Returning Section Meet qualifiers: Ben Muller (5th 200, 6th 4×100, 6th 4×200), Gage Tuohy (6th 4×100), Jack Tuohy (6th 4×200), Jared Baker (6th 4×200), Carson Larrabee (6th 4×100), Isaiah Froese (400), Joanna Salerno (8th 300-H), Rylee Burnett (7th 4×100), Alyssa Baum (7th 4×100, 4×400), Stephanie Bradt (4×200, 4×400), Karla Gomez (4×400, 4×800), Braden Thompson (4×400), Abbi Gillespie (4×800), Sydney Allen (4×800), Tessa McMahon (4×800), Brady Woltz (4×800), Cooper Frederick (4×800), Manny Perez (T-Jump), Jonathan Frank (Discus), Ann Warren (H-Jump). Synopsis: Gophers have a couple returnees who competed at state in 2017 (Gage Tuohy, Muller). Muller is the most credentialed returnee. Each side has plenty of veterans (relay and otherwise). Boys have 36 out, the girls over 50.
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