2 Maple Grove Runners Qualify for State Cross Country Championship

The Maple Grove boys’ cross country team just missed out on competing in the state championship, but two Crimson runners qualified individually at Thursday’s Section 5AA championship at Anoka High School.

Maple Grove placed third in the championship. Its 103 points were just 25 points behind runner-up Mounds View.

Junior Mitchell Dickerson qualified for state with a fourth place, 16:09.3 finish in the five-kilometer race. Senior Sean Heaton, who also qualified, was right behind him with a fifth place, 16:09.4 finish.

Osseo, which scored 157 points, placed seventh in the race, and did not have any runners qualify for state. Senior Adam Berkowitz crossed the finish line first for the Orioles. Berkowitz’s time of 16:29.0 was good enough for 14th place. Junior Mitch Cramer was next at 16th place and a time of 16:31.8.

In the girls’ race, Maple Grove placed sixth with 158 points. No runners qualified for state. Seventh grader Alexi Miller was first for the Crimson with a time of 15:27.9 and a 13th-place finish in the four-kilometer race. Senior Kendall Johnson was next with a 23rd-place finish and a time of 15:42.9.

Osseo’s 223 points put it at 10th place. It didn’t have any runners qualify either. Junior Maddy Hvidston led the way for the Orioles with a time of 15:32.2 and a 14th-place finish. Junior Grace Koskela was next at 37th place and a time of 15:56.0.