2025 State XC Preview - Class A

Introduction

The Class A State Cross Country Championships at Les Bolstad Golf Course bring together a familiar mix of historic programs, rising challengers, and elite individuals. The boys’ team race once again is expected to feature the kind of razor-thin margins Class A has become known for where each of the last six team titles has been decided within eight points. While the girls’ meet presents a compelling dual storyline: the rise of New London-Spicer in a collision course with perennial power St. Cloud Cathedral, and the highly anticipated individual showdown between Margaret Duffy and Audrey Brownell. Let’s get into it.

Boys Class A Team Preview

The boys’ championship race carries distinct layers of intrigue, and its front is defined by two Section 1 rivals who have been intertwined all season: Cotter/Hope Lutheran and Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson/Houston (LA/RP/H). They have raced four times this year, and in each competition, the team margins were narrow enough to resemble a state final preview. Cotter, led by an exceptional top three, builds its strategy around low points from the front. Sophomore star Erik Semling, junior Ryan Littlefield and senior Kellen Groth were all top seven at last year’s state meet and seem to be in even better fitness this season. Their proven strength at these first three spots allows them to control races early and apply pressure on teams that rely on pack strength.

LA/RP/H counters with a strategy that has produced three head-to-head wins over Cotter this season: a compact, disciplined pack. They may lack the same front-running firepower, but they make up for it by compressing runners one through six in a scoring wall that leaves little room for opposing fourth and fifth runners to breathe. This dynamic has given them growing momentum throughout the fall and sets the stage for what could be another state meet decided by less than ten points. This is the third consecutive season where LA/RP/H has beaten Cotter at Sections, but then Cotter has edged then out at State the past two year. Can LA/RP/H buck the trend and take down the Ramblers when it counts?

Redwood Valley is the most dangerous threat to the Section 1 favorites. The defending state champions surprised many by rebuilding quickly after graduating five seniors last year. Their return to the top tier this season has been marked by steady development, smart racing, and their own continued belief in pack running. Junior Tyler Robinson leads the Cardinals and Clayton Salmon seems to be getting healthier after an early season injury. Redwood Valley has the talent to strike if either Cotter or LA/RP/H falter in the back half of the race.

Nova Classical Academy is a perennial postseason presence and once again arrives in form. With six state appearances in the past seven years, Nova is built on reliability and depth that could allow them to sneak back on the podium. Led by sophomore Benaiah Mathews, Nova won a very competitive Section 4A race last week and appear to be in top form. The team Nova beat last week, Heritage Christian Academy, returns to state with respect built on history. Champions in both 2022 and 2023, the Eagles finished fifth last year and enter this season looking to return to the podium. While they do not have the same full-roster depth as some of the other contenders, they benefit from a true low stick in Lev Dougherty at the front of the lineup which puts them in a good spot right off the bat.

Three additional programs bring meaningful influence on team scoring. Litchfield, winner of Section 5A, features one of the best one-two combinations in the class and carries momentum after strong late-season performances. The Northwest Nighthawks, who were sixth a year ago, excel in mid-race pack positioning and can absorb teams with bigger individual names by filling key scoring gaps. Bertha-Hewitt rounds out the contenders after taking down a ranked Sauk Centre team at sections and advancing with confidence. Each of these three teams may not enter as title favorites, but all of them have the tools to disrupt scoring lines and shape podium outcomes.

Boys Class A Individual Preview

Defending champion Erik Semling of Cotter has proven once again that he belongs at the front of Minnesota distance running. After becoming the first freshman to win a boys’ state title since at least 1992, Semling followed that breakthrough with a strong track season, winning the Class A 3200-meter title. This fall, he has only extended his dominance, running four times under 15:40 and producing a 15:16 victory at the Heartland Preview, one of the fastest times in the region this year. He races with a rare combination of controlled aggression and composure and does not hesitate to string out races once he senses the

opportunity to take control. If he can repeat on Saturday, he will just be the 2^nd Class A boy to do so since 2006- and he is only a sophomore!

The most dangerous challenger to Semling’s title defense is Heritage Christian senior Lev Dougherty, who has constructed a flawless season. Dougherty enters the state meet undefeated, including a signature win in the Griak Gopher race where he beat 3^rd ranked Class AAA star Tyler Flippen. Dougherty has finished fifth the past two state meets and has the 1:54 800m speed to finish strong and give us a potential upset if he is within striking distance late.

Behind the top two, a battle for all-state honors will unfold among a deep group of contenders. Cotter gains heavy support from junior Ryan Littlefield, sixth a year ago, has put together one of the most consistent seasons in the field. Littlefield rarely runs a poor race and has remained firmly ranked 3^rd all season, highlighted by a stretch of sub-16:05 performances. Littlefield’s teammate and las year’s seventh place finisher Kellen Groth adds another experienced presence for Cotter. Groth was injured early in the season but peaked well at the Section 1A meet and enters ready to extend a three-year streak of running his best race of the season at state.

Several other athletes are expected to challenge the front pack. Litchfield junior Judah Allen has trended sharply upward in the final month of the season, posting consecutive sub-15:50 efforts, while teammate August Swenson provides a second medal threat for the Dragons. Loyola-Mankato senior Soren Kelly enters after winning his section meet and has displayed excellent control in tactical races. Bertha-Hewitt senior Brady Rach, sixth at state back in 2022, has returned to form and will contend for top five placement if the pace allows. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton senior Owen Winter is one of the most consistent big-race runners in Class A, entering state with two straight top-10 finishes and the experience to navigate championship pressure. Last name to mention here is Logan Wiehoff of Sauk Centre, who has won seven races this season including four sib-16:10 races.

Girls Class A Team Preview

The girls’ team race in Class A is built around a powerful central rivalry that has gained steam each week of the season: St. Cloud Cathedral versus New London-Spicer. Cathedral may be the most experienced program in the field and has carried championship expectation into November year after year as the Crusaders won the Class A title in 2023 and were runners-up in 2022. Last year, however, Cathedral faltered late and ended up finished sixth at state after being ranked first all season long. Now this year, they seem to have responded well to last year’s disappointment and will be on the attack to get back to their winning ways. Junior Katelyn Waldoch, who went sub 19:00 at Section 5A last week, is their leader and on the path for redemption.

New London-Spicer has rewritten the competitive landscape of Class A this season. Dropping from Class AA to Class A, the Wildcats immediately became a force and surged into legitimate title contention. NLS showed precision at the Section 6A meet, securing the easy victory to claim their first state meet berth since 2009. Freshman Kyla Vick and senior Taylor Munsch have both had fantastic seasons leading the pursuit of the Wildcats top ever state finish. While they and their teammates do not have the extensive state meet background of Cathedral, they balance that with fearless racing and a season-long belief that they are capable of finishing at the top of Minnesota’s Class A podium.

Redwood Valley once again arrives as a formidable challenger. The Cardinals were state runners-up last season and dominated Section 3A on their path back to Les Bolstad. Their roster includes a reliable scoring five that has raced well together throughout the fall, and they possess the depth to pressure both Cathedral and NLS if either team leaves scoring gaps open. Providence Academy also enters with strong aspirations after winning the Section 4A title by a single point. They rely on a tight front group, and if their fourth and fifth runners can move closer to their leaders, they could play a disruptive role in the title race. Loyola-Cleveland does not have the depth to match the top contenders but will influence the team standings with two elite frontrunners who will displace points at the top of the field. One of the biggest surprises of the year in Class A is the team out of Barnesville. The Trojans dominated a very competitive Section 8AAA and could place higher than expected on Saturday- even with no sophomores, juniors, or seniors on their varsity!

Girls Class A Individual Preview

The individual race in Class A centers around a head-to-head matchup that has defined this season: Margaret Duffy versus Audrey Brownell. Their duel represents not only the two fastest runners in Class A but also two distinct paths to the championship. Duffy enters as the top seed after a breakout season that elevated her onto the state’s elite stage. She won the Section 5A title with the fastest time in Class A this year, a commanding 17:30, which ranks as one of the fastest times in the region this year. Last spring, Duffy captured the Class A 3200-meter state title in 10:42, and her cross-country season has shown similar strength. Last season, her 4^th place finish included being in 68^th place at the mile mark, showing she is patient and can close late gaps with authority.

Brownell represents proven championship experience. The Staples-Motley junior won the Class A individual state title last fall after finishing runner-up in 2023, and her ability to execute under pressure has made her one of the toughest competitors in Minnesota distance running. She has continued her success this season, posting four wins and finishing ahead of Duffy at the Roy Griak Invitational, one of the state’s most prestigious meets. Brownell has also continued to compete at a high level on the track, winning the state mile last spring and finishing second in the 3200 meters to Duffy. Their battle at state now serves as the tie-breaking moment of their season rivalry.

With the focus on Duffy and Brownell, a strong chase pack is prepared to race for podium positions. Loyola-Cleveland teammates Charlotte Meyer and Valerie Quast bring both talent and experience. Meyer finished second at last year’s state meet and has been consistently near the front of major races this fall. Quast has surged late in the season, winning the Section 2A title in a personal best of 17:53 and displaying excellent form heading into state. Border West freshman Karissa Anderson has placed no worse than third in any race this year, while New London-Spicer’s Kyla Vick has contributed to her team’s rise with disciplined, late-race movement. Nova Classical freshman Isabel Pass brings strong state experience despite her age, finishing seventh and thirteenth in her first two appearances. Autumn Rakosnik of Lanesboro-Fillmore Central adds to the depth of the front group after finishing ninth last year and maintaining consistent times throughout this season. Last one we will mention is Maple River’s Sophia Stencel who was 6^th last year and has broken 19 minutes four times this year already. All these girls should be in the podium mix on Saturday morning!