Prep cross country: Cardinals compete for trips to state today

The Willmar boys and girls cross country teams will be aiming for state meet spots at the Section 8AA meet today in Monticello, but both teams will need to overcome injury issues to do so.
The Cardinals girls team is shooting for a third-straight section championship and have been ranked No. 2 in the state this fall.
The top two teams qualify for the Nov. 7 state meet at St. Olaf College in Northfield, and the top eight individuals not on the qualifying teams also earn spots at state.
The Cardinals girls team placed all seven of its runners in the top 10 at last week’s Central Lakes Conference Championships, with Jessa Hanson placing third, Heidi Schmitz finishing fourth and Kayla Rudie taking fifth. The Cardinals easily won the conference meet.
It marked the first time in some time that a fully healthy Cardinals team took to the course, but Rudie is a question mark to run today because of a sore knee, said head coach Jerry Popp.
Hanson, Heidi Schmitz, Serena Monson, Sophie Schmitz, Leah Hansen and Savannah Anez can pick up the slack, Popp said.
“We struggled until the CLC meet with various injuries and illnesses,” he said. “But we are a deep squad and should be OK.”
Alexandria’s Bethany Hasz and Megan Hasz placed first and second in the CLC meet and they could repeat that order today. Bemidji’s Sadie Hamrin also is an individual contender, Popp said.
The two Hasz kids alone will help Alexandria contend, he said.
“Willmar’s pack should all be in contention for top 10 through 12 honors,” Popp said. “Look for Sartell, Bemidji and Monticello to be in the hunt for that second spot, as well.”
Boys CLC champion Nadir Yusuf will lead the Cardinals in their quest to improve on a fifth-place finish in last season’s section meet.
Yusuf ran a solid 16:08.00 to win the conference meet. Teammate Mohamed Noor was second in 16:24.70 but he’s battling a sore leg. Mason Wendt also is injured but should be able to run today, along with CLC fourth-place finisher Ian Thompson, Hudeife Mire and Cael Carlson, Popp said.
“We have been state ranked most of the season,” Popp said. “Our goal is to put together a ‘team’ race and contend for one of those top two spots.”
The Cardinals have never put both boys and girls teams in the state meet in the same year.
“That would be an awesome exclamation point on what has been a very successful year,” Popp said.