If you're going to introduce a non-parent to the awesome frenzy that is a high school cross country meet, you can't go wrong with State. There's music, lots of runners, tons of spectators, fans wearing capes, signs, banners, pizza, buses, drama, chaos... It's easy to watch from one place if that's what you like, but of course, it's much more fun to run all over and try to catch your runner at multiple points in the race.
The Central cheering section was hanging out by the soccer goals throwing around a football and a frisbee (often at the same time). We started there, but after seeing the pack run down the first hill (little boy is right in front!), we took off to see them run the loop just after the 1600m mark.
The front pack stayed together through about 4000m, no one wanted to make a move. From the loop, TODL and I ran back towards the finish.
Although he didn't stay up with the front runners, little boy kept passing people all the way through the last 1000m. TODL and I managed to wedge ourselves into the throng of finish line spectators and see little boy race towards the finish chute. I wonder how much time his feet spend in contact with the ground, because there are an awful lot of pictures where it looks like he's flying.
I counted the runners as they came in. little boy's teammate Kemal was third! My counting got a little shaky once more boys ran by, but I was pretty sure little boy was in the top 30. He finished 29th!
MSHSL Boys Class AA Championships
St. Olaf College, Northfield
Individuals:
1. Aaron Bartnik, 11, Eden Prairie, 15:55.1
2. Marty Joyce, 12, Woodbury, 15:58.0
3. Kemal J, 12, St. Paul Central, 16:02.4
4. Cole O'Brien, 10, Burnsville, 16:02.7
5. Jake Autio, 12, StMichael/Albertville, 16:04.8
6. Adam Zutz, 11, St. Francis, 16:08.5
7. Jon-Michael Brandt, 12, Winona, 16:09.9
8. Mohamed Mohamed, 11, Eden Prairie, 16:11.4
9. Blayne Dulian, 12, Coon Rapids, 16:11.6
10. Oliver Haughland, 12, Wayzata, 16:12.5
11. Josh Thorson, 10, Wayzata, 16:12.9
12. Bryant Blahnik, 11, Red Wing, 16:14.8
13. Trent Lusignan, 11, Shakopee, 16:15.3
14. Steven Dado, 10, Totino Grace, 16:15.5
15. Grady Anderson, 12, Grand Rapids, 16:18.4
16. Dan Fitzpatrick, 12, Saint Thomas Academy, 16:26.4
17. Christopher Mueller, 12, Eden Prairie, 16:26.8
18. Ben Saxton, 10, Lakeville North, 16:27.4
19. Erick Meszaros-Jones, 12, Eden Prairie, 16:29.3
20. Jimmy Dean, 12, Brainerd, 16:30.8
21. Alex Ciesielski, 12, Minneapolis South, 16:31.0
22. Christian Skaret, 11, Minnetonka, 16:32.0
23. Brian Brochman, 12, Stillwater, 16:32.6
24. Max Flanagan, 12, Saint Thomas Academy, 16:32.9
25. Landon Lozano, 12, Wayzata, 16:33.0
26. Ryan Ness, 12, Woodbury, 16:33.2
27. Brian Anderson, 12, Saint Thomas Academy, 16:33.4
28. Elliot Fenske, 11, Farmington, 16:36.0
29. Michael V, 12, St. Paul Central, 16:36.2
Big Boy and little boy rode the party bus back to town. TODL and I went on a rampage through Fleet Farm. Jeans! Cheap stuff! Diesel coupon!
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