Wayzata Outraces Eagan For Girls Cross Country Crown

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Wayzata sophomore Anna French beat out Eagan’s Danielle Anderson for the individual title at the Class AA state cross country championship in Northfield on Saturday.

French finished first in a time of 13:57.6. Anderson, a senior at Eagan, was second in 14:06.5.

Wayzata won the team title with 50 points. Eagan was second in the 16-team race with 93. The race was held in cloudy and calm conditions with the temperature in the 30s at St. Olaf College in Northfield.

Eagan’s top five runners all finished in the top 40 out of the 174 runners who competed Saturday afternoon.

Eagan sophomore Karina Johnson was 13th with a time of 14:51.1, junior Raissa Hansen was 14th in 14:53.4, sophomore Anna Van Wyk placed 27th in 15:12.9 and sophomore Kelli Praska was 37th in 15:21.8. Also running for the Wildcats were senior Elizabeth Frick, who placed 66th with a time of 15:38.2 and ninth-grader Olivia Mitchell, who took 79th in 15:48.9.

Wayzata won the team title on the strength of putting its top five runners all finishing in the top 20 overall. Edina was third with 129, Forest Lake fourth with 161. East Ridge and Lakeville South tied for fifth with 161.

"The girls ran well on Saturday," said Eagan High School Girls Cross Country Coach Lisa Langenhahn. "We all had faster times than last year's performance. It just wasn't enough to beat Wayzata, which is OK.  

"Second in the state is an amazing feat and I am proud of the girl's hard work and success this season," Langenhan added. "Of course we are always looking ahead, and wanting more, which is what we will be shooting for next season."