Wayzata MN Brings Back Four Scorers As It Seeks To Hold Onto Supremacy In The Heartland, Repeat Regional Title

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Boys NXR Heartland Preview

For the second year in a row, tradition-rich Wayzata is the pick for No. 1 in the Heartland Region. The Minnesota powerhouse returns four of its five scorers from a 2021 team that won the NXR Heartland championship. 

Minnesota's top tier programs have dominated the regional meet for more than a decade but there could be a bit more parity this year with quality depth returning for schools in North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin. 

Wayzata won the regional title by 11 points last November and its top finisher was 44th overall in the race. Depth paid off in that setting. But later, at the RunningLane Championships, the Minnesota champions got left behind and finished last in the premier race, taking 31st place. 

The Spartans will be looking to move up this fall with four of their top five scorers back, led by senior Hamza Mohamed. At last year's state meet, Wayzata split 17.3 seconds on its 1-5, the most compressed pack for a winning team since 1988. 

Minnesota's might may be revealed as the season progresses, but Williston of North Dakota and Millard West of Nebraska and Dowling Catholic of Iowa all return at least four solid varsity members from last year and could be in the mix for a berth to Nike Cross Nationals. 

In Wisconsin, SPASH (Stevens Points) is highly regarded coming into the season and features junior Bode Erickson, one of the top runners in the state. 

The top runner in the region is already a sub-four miler. Simeon Birnbaum of Rapid City Stevens ran 3:59.51 to win the mile at Brooks PR Invitational and the South Dakota state champion will look to improve upon an eighth place finish at NXR Heartland last year. 

1. Wayzata. In addition to bringing back four of the team's five scorers from a state championship team, the Nos. 8 and 9 guys return as well. Wayzata has veterans to lead the group with senior Hamza Mohamed and junior Parker Dietrich, the team's top two in 2021. Sophomore Will Weber was the third man last year at the regional meet and could also give the team a lift. Junior Daniel McCollor was also part of that 17.3-second split at state last year. Senior Zakaria Hussein and junior Tyler Kissel give the team additional options and depth.  

2. Williston ND. Williston returns its top three from a team that won the North Dakota state title last year and seniors Ivan Askim and Fynn Krenz were second and fourth, respectively, in the state. Ethan Moe was eighth. The Coyotes only lost one senior, so this team should be better than ever this fall and a contender for a automatic berth to Nike Cross Nationals. That fate will largely depend on the development and improvement of senior Kolden Kringen, sophomore Hunter Hart and junior Thomas Haskins. 

3. Millard West NE. The Wildcats concluded the 2021 season with a 25th place showing at the RunningLane Championships in Alabama, six spots better than Wayzata. The team lost Sam Kirchner to graduation but four runners who placed in the top 22 at the Nebraska state meet are back. Senior Piercze Marshall, junior Jack Witte, junior Porter Bickley and senior Joey Hartnett form the building blocks of a team that should be able to contend for the regional title and another chance to compete at nationals. The prospects depend on the development of a solid fifth scorer.

4. Dowling Catholic IA. Five of the top eight runners are back in uniform for the NXR Heartland eighth place team and Iowa Class 4A champions. Senior Jackson Heidesch is the reigning state champion and he ran 4:06.14 to win the elite high school boys mile at the Festival of Miles in June. His teammates include senior Flynn Milligan, sophomore Jack Flori, junior Matthew Bootman and senior Gabe Shaw. The Maroons could take a step foward in the region and contend for a nationals berth after racing in the RunningLane Championships Silver section last December. 

5. Stevens Point WI. Bode Erickson, a junior, is one of four returners from last year's top seven. Erickson is part of a wave of young, talented runners who had impressive track seasons. He ran 4:20 for 1,600 meters and was one of six freshmen or sophomores at the school to run under 4:50. Aloysius Franzen, another junior, gives the team a solid No. 2, and the development of sophomores Ethan Olds, Graham Ballard and Matt Frank will determine how far this team can go. Upperclassmen Cooper Gunderson and Max Bushmaker are also key members of the pack. 

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