State-ranked runners head to Alex for Lions Meet of Champions

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Nearly 1,500 runners will take part in the 37th annual Lions cross country Meet of Champions set for tomorrow, Saturday, at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center, many of those teams and individuals ranked in the state polls.

Among those set to participate is Alexandria’s own sophomore Jamie Piepenburg, the No. 1 ranked runner in Class AA.

The Cardinal runner, who was third in last year’s State Class AA cross country championships, has not lost a race so far this season and has seen her time drop significantly from the start of the fall season.

She will have some serious competition in this meet as Class AA’s No. 4 ranked runner, Heidi Peterson of Sartell, will be among the competitors.

Also running will be eighth ranked Allison Cordes of Roseville, 11th ranked Erica Seidenkranz of Monticello and 12th ranked Kaila Urick of Chaska.

State-ranked girls’ teams that will be among the competitors include Class AA’s sixth ranked Roseville and seventh ranked Monticello. Staples-Motley, which garnered votes in the Class A polls, will also be on hand.

Although not ranked, Cardinal Zach Hodgson has had an impressive two weeks recently, winning both meets.

He and his teammates, who are ranked No. 12 in the Class AA team polls, will have Class AA’s third ranked White Bear Lake, fourth ranked Stillwater, 10th ranked Willmar and Class A’s fifth ranked St. Cloud Cathedral to contend with. Staples-Motley, which received votes in the Class A poll, will also compete.

Individually, they will be taking on top-ranked Bryan Blahnik of Red Wing, as well as a pair of Class A runners who have received votes in the most recent polls – Grant Winterheiser of Cathedral and Jordan Bendson of Staples-Motley.

Opening the day for the premier event will be the junior high girls’ division race set for 10:30 a.m., followed by the junior high boys’ division at 10:50.

At 11:15 a.m., the junior varsity girls will run, followed by the JV boys at 11:45.

At 12:15 p.m., the varsity girls are set to take off, to be followed by the varsity boys at 12:45 p.m.

An awards ceremony is set for 1:15 p.m.

GIRLS’ TEAMS

Alexandria – 1. Jamie Piepenburg (AA)

Bemidji

Chanhassen

Chaska – 12. Kaila Urick (AA)

Cretin-Derham Hall

Detroit Lakes

Eastview

Lakeview

Monticello – No. 7AA; 11. Erica Seidenkranz (AA)

Mounds View

Red Wing

Rocori

Roseville – No. 6AA; 8. Allison Cordes (AA); Becca Dyson (AA votes)

Sartell – 4. Heidi Peterson (AA)

St. Cloud Apollo

St. Cloud Tech

St. Louis Park

Staples-Motley – A (votes);

Stillwater

White Bear Lake

Willmar

Windom Area

BOYS’ TEAMS

Alexandria – No. 12AA

Bemidji

Chanhassen

Chaska

Cretin-Derham Hall

Detroit Lakes

Lakeview

Mounds View

Red Wing – 1. Bryant Blahnik (AA)

Rocori

Roseville

Sartell

St. Cloud Apollo

St. Cloud Cathedral – No. 5A; Grant Winterheiser (voles)

St. Cloud Tech

St. Louis Park

St. Thomas Academy

Staples-Motley – A (votes); Jordan Bendson (votes)

Stillwater – No. 4AA

White Bear Lake – No. 3AA

Willmar – No. 10AA

Windom Area

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