Wayzata's Perch Atop Heartland Region Continues, Trojans In Position For Ninth NXN Appearance

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Girls NXR Heartland Preview

The St. Olaf High School Showcase last weekend did much to verify Wayzata's return to a No. 1 ranking in the preseason Heartland region rankings. 

Wayzata brings back its top four, and five of seven, from a team that finished ninth at Nike Cross Nationals last year. 

In the season opener, senior trio Maddie Gullickson, Lila Golomb and Jazleen Malherek-Osorio went 1-2-3 and about 40 seconds later came another Wayazta trio, senior Miley Clark, freshman Alissa Ledman and junior Aubrey Smith in 10th, 11th and 12. (There were more than 400 runners in the race). 

Wayzata's depth and NXN pedigree indicate a return trip to nationals is likely. It would be the team's ninth appearance. 

If there is to be a challenge for the NXR Heartland team title, it may come from a young and talent team from South Dakota. 

Harrisburg, led by standout eighth grader Brianna Reilly, finished fifth at NXR Heartland with a team featuring three middle schoolers. Reilly, Hannah Genrich and Autumn Gilhooly are all ninth graders now and they may be in the process of building something very special. At the recent O'Gorman XC Invitational, Reilly covered 2.5 miles in 13:31 and was 50 seconds ahead of her teammates. She is the defending South Dakota individual champion and ran the O'Gorman course 35 seconds faster than last year. 

Johnston of Iowa was second in the region last year and made it to NXN. The Dragoons bring back all seven from a team that finished 21st in Portland. So the expectations should be high and the motivation to return and do better is also present. 

Sioux Falls Christian SD opened its season at the Bereford XC Invite and put five in the top 13. This group finished sixth at NXR Heartland despite competing without its low stick. Everybody in the top seven is back for the Chargers, who face Harrisburg for the first time on Friday at the Augustana Twilight. 

The Heartland region individual champion, Marissa Ferebee, is on the No. 5 team, Pella of Iowa. Ferebee led a 1-2-3-6-10 finish for the Little Dutch at the Cedar Rapids Prairie Invitational last weekend. 

Ferebee, Reilly and Ruby Ihmels of Century (Bismarck) ND and Ryin Miller of Seaman KS lead a short list of individual NXR Heartland title contenders this fall. All four finished in the top six of last year's regional at Yankton Trails. 

1. Wayzata MN. For all of the program's success over the years, the combination of Maddie Gullickson, Lila Golomb and Jazleen Malherek-Osorio is perhaps the best trio the school has ever had. Gullickson's 10:18.63 best in the 3,200 is second only to Abbey Neckanicky in program history. Senior Miley Clark and junior Aubrey Smith are part of the second pack, along with freshman Alissa Ledman. 

2. Harrisburg SD. Brianna Reilly won her first race of the season by 50 seconds and she would have placed third in the boys varsity race. If she's already 35 seconds faster than she was a year ago, then she is surely going to move up from last year's sixth place at the regional and is perhaps ready to compete for the win. Hannah Genrich, Autumn Gilhooly, junior Sarah Gilhooly were all spread apart but still swept the top four spots at the team's first meet. If the freshmen can make progress and stay connected, this could be a dangerous team.

3. Johnston IA. After losing at the Iowa state meet by 25 points to Pleasant Valley, the Dragoons enjoyed a magical day at the NXR Heartland to finish second and book passage to NXN. A 21st place finish followed in Portland, but all seven who made that trip are back this fall. Senior Alyx Woodley, juniors Payton Crabb and Ele Wharton, senior Audrey Dummermuth, junior Aubrielle Tousey and seniors Lexie Wisham and Jayna Lamping all have NXN experience. Junior Grace Beasley was also among the team's top eight last year.    

4. Sioux Falls Christian SD. Senior Ellie Maddox won her opener at the Beresford Invitational by nearly a minute in 17:45 and was 55 seconds faster than last year on the same course. Maddox didn't run at NXR Heartland last year but her team still placed sixth without her. Senior Jerica Glasser is the Class A state champion in the 3,200 meters.  Sophomore Sadie Pettengill and seniors Natalie Smith and Bailey VanderGriend round out the top five.

5. Pella IA. Senior Marissa Ferebee was one of the breakout stars of the 2024 cross country season and she placed seventh at NXN after winning the Heartland regional. In the spring she won the Iowa state championship in the 3,000 meters. She leads a team that includes junior Elsie Brenneman, sophomore Lizzy Vande Voort, sophomore Carleigh Altwine and junior Ruth Dunham. The fourth-place team in the region last year, Pella returns six of seven.

WATCHLIST

Pleasant Valley IA

Shawnee Mission East KS

Forest Lake Area MN

Edina MN

Century ND