Grace Ping Runs Solid Season Debut and Wayzata MN Girls Look Strong at St. Olaf High School Showcase

By Adam Kopet

Grace Ping made her season debut Thursday for Cotter MN at the St. Olaf High School Showcase.

The freshman opened her season with a time of 17:45 for the 5-kilometer course in Northfield, Minn. She won by 19 seconds. Ping's younger sister, Lauren, a seventh-grader, finished third in 18:21.

The high finishes of the Ping sisters were not enough to earn Cotter a high team finish. The Ramblers placed 12th in the team standings.

However, the Wayzata MN girls have emerged as possible contenders in the Heartland Region. The Trojans won the 31-team meet with 37 points.

Emma Atkinson and Caroline Sassan, both sophomores, led the way for Wayzata with fourth- and fifth-place finishes in 18:32 and 18:34, respectively. All five scoring runners finished in the top 16.