The Section of Death

Last year, the Edina boys finished third here, ending their state series in October. The Hornets went on to finish second in the Heartland Region and ninth at NXN, giving the Lake Conference and section 6AA two of the top nine boys squads in the United States. That's been pretty typical for this section, where defending section and state champs Wayzata (second at NXN, first at Heartland Region last year), Hopkins (second at section, second at states, fourth in the Heartland), Eden Prairie, and Edina are perhaps the best local quartet in the United States. In fact, Wayzata-Edina might be the best local duo in the country--they've combined to make NXN seven times in the last six years--but Minnesota's brutal state qualifying system and the quality of region 6 means that one of the two has missed qualifying for the state meet three times in that same period. Here's a look at the duo's finishes since 2009 in the Lake Conference, Section 6AA, Minnesota, the Heartland Region, and NXN:

At this year's Lake Conference meet, Hopkins won, Edina took second, and Wayzata was third, with a ten-point gap between each team. In our most recent Saucony Flo50, we have Hopkins #11, Edina #20, and Wayzata on the bubble. Whichever team finishes third tomorrow at Gale Woods will have a break until the November 15 Nike Heartland Regional.

The girls in the region aren't far behind. While Edina is a clear favorite--they're ranked 25th in the Flo50 and #1 in the Minnesota coaches' poll--Wayzata and Eden Prairie will duke it out for the coveted second qualifying spot.