No. 13 Edina (MN)
Analysis: In one of the strongest states for girls distance running, Edina will be one of its best teams. With five of seven returning from last year's second-place finish at NXR Heartland -- and 17th-place finish at Nike Cross Nationals -- the Hornets will once again be dangerous. Sophomore Margaret Wagner is the team's top returner, having finished 14th at NXR Heartland, while sophomore Macy Iyer, senior Morgan Richter, senior Sadie Schreiner and freshman Lauren Cossack will produce depth. Based on the team's top times from last season, the Hornets return with an average of 18:18.16, 21st best in the country, and sport a potential spread of just 34 seconds.
While Wayzata High School might be the strongest girls team on paper -- with all seven from its runner-up NXN squad returning -- remember a key fact: Edina routinely plays the role of foil in Class 2A and will have plenty of opportunities to snag big wins from its biggest rival in 2019.
Biggest question: Just how fast will this team go at the top end?
Moving into her sophomore season, Wagner was just five seconds shy of breaking 18 minutes last year. But sometimes maturity is what produces the biggest gains for athletes seeking faster PRs. The newly-minted sophomore has a chance to dip into the 17s this season, and with it, enter into the ranks of the states's best.
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MileSplit50 Girls Team National Rankings Countdown
25 -- Link | Aug. 20 -- East Grand Rapids (MI) |
24 -- Link | Aug. 20 -- Farmington (MN) |
23 -- Link | Aug. 20 -- North Allegheny (PA) |
22 -- Link | Aug. 20 -- Zionsville Community (IN) |
21 -- Link | Aug. 20 -- Flower Mound (TX) |
20 -- Link | Aug. 21 -- Prosper (TX) |
19 -- Link | Aug. 22 -- Ann Arbor Pioneer (MI) |
18 -- Link | Aug. 23 -- Downers Grove South (IL) |
17 -- Link | Aug. 24 -- STMA (MN) |
16 -- Link | Aug. 25 -- Lone Peak (UT) |
15 -- Link | Aug. 26 -- Mountain Vista (CO) |
14 -- Link | Aug. 27 -- Saratoga Springs (NY) |
13 -- Link | Aug. 28 -- Edina (MN) |
12 -- Link | Aug. 29 -- Bozeman (MT) |
11 -- Link | Aug. 30 -- Niwot (CO) |
10 -- Link | Aug. 31 -- Desert Vista (AZ) |
9 -- Link | Sept. 1 -- Yorkville (IL) |
8 -- Link | Sept. 2 -- Saugus (CA) |
7 -- Link | Sept. 3 -- Naperville North (IL) |
6 -- Link | Sept. 4 -- Beavercreek (OH) |
5 -- Link | Sept. 6 -- Great Oak (CA) |
4 -- Link | Sept. 6 -- North Central (WA) |
3 -- Link | Sept. 6 -- Fayetteville-Manlius (NY) |
2 -- Link | Sept. 6 -- Wayzata (MN) |
1 -- Link | Sept. 6 -- Summit (WA) |