Update on Nov. 2: At the Class AA State Cross Country Meet on Nov. 2, 8th grader Ryder Mold finished the 5k race in 16:20 to place 24th (161 runners) and earn All-State honors. His time tied his career personal record and he was the top middle schooler. Despite a couple falls, freshman Anniston Rolf persevered and finished 30th (160 athletes) with a time of 19:31.
Two members of the St. Francis High School cross country teams have qualified for the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Class AA Cross Country Running State Meet set for Nov. 2 at the University of Minnesota Les Bolstad Golf Course.
Qualified: Freshman Anniston Rolf qualified for the girls team after placing fourth in the Section 5AA meet with a time of 19:17.1 in the 5K race. In the boys section race, 8th grader Ryder Mold finished his 5k race in fifth place with a time of 16:24.1. He is one of eight seventh or eighth graders who will be running at the Class AA state meet.
Event information: On Saturday, the girls race begins at 10 a.m., while the boys race is scheduled for a 10:45 a.m. start. View the live results link and spectator guide for more information about the event.
Tickets: Information on how to purchase tickets for the state meet can be found at https://www.mshsl.org/tickets. All tickets will be purchased online through the GoFan website or app.
Streaming: Coverage of MSHSL state cross country meet is on NSPN - Neighborhood Sports Programming Network (formerly PrepSpotlight/SchoolSpace). The coverage will feature the start and finish line plus select points around the course. Payment options are $30 for a yearly subscription or $10 for a month.
Runnin’ Rolf: Rolf is having another standout season for the Fighting Saints after not only qualifying for the state meet last year as an eighth grader, but placing 20th with a time of 19:15.3. This season she broke her own school record at the Mississippi 8 conference meet where she raced to a 5K time of 18:56.4 to place third and earn all-conference recognition. Her previous record of 19:04 was set last season.
“I started off the season kind of rocky, but then the last couple meets have felt really good,” Rolf said. “I’m trying to train harder than I did last year and I’m hoping to finish better than top 20.”
Head Coach Becki Hanson talking about Rolf: “I think last year she got the taste of being at state and she understood what that felt like and it served as motivation to train harder over the summer. It’s so great to see the hard work and dedication pay off. She’s got experience in this race, so I’m hoping she places in the top 20.”
Molded to run: Mold is building on his cross country career after competing on the varsity team last season as a seventh grader. This year he earned all-conference honors when he placed third at the conference meet with a 5K time of 16:20.9.
“It’s cool going to state as an eighth grader,” Mold said. “There aren’t many eighth graders that will be there, so I’m just looking to compete and see how I can place. I’d like to place in the top 25 and be all-state.”
Head Coach Becki Hanson talking about Mold: “He had the motivation to make the state meet. He came out and was such a great runner last year that you kind of expected for him to be that good this year. I’m hoping he continues to get better and better.”
Photo credit: Agape Moments Photography