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SJP Girls’ Cross-Country Team Earns Trip to State Championship Meet

SJP Girls’ Cross-Country Team Earns Trip to State
Margaret Duffy is the Section Champion
Connor McMahon Earns Trip to State

Sjp Team For Web

Congratulations to the Saint John’s Prep girls’ cross-country team for earning a berth at the MSHSL cross-country championships. The girls’ team were led by sophomore Margaret Duffy who earned first place in the Section 5A cross-country race in Hinckley on Thursday.

Head Coach Lance Nydeen says “Despite losing our top ranked runner, senior Louise Ruzanic, due to an injury, our runners all stepped up to provide the most convincing performance of the season so far! The girls’ team was focused and determined to prove they are true contenders. Our runners fought each meter of the Hinckley race with grit, determination, and trust in their ability, and that of their teammates!”

Margaret Duffy For Web

Section Champion Margaret Duffy ’27 is currently the 15th ranked girl in all Minnesota Class A. Margaret continues the tradition of SJP girls’ team by winning the Section 5A Cross Country Championship after Olivia Pauly ‘24 earned that honor in 2023.

The girls’ team members include senior Sylvie Bechtold, sophomores Margaret Duffy and Sofia Pauly, freshmen Claudia Ruzanic, Lauren Lenzmeier, Ellen Bechtold, and Brooke Schmidt. The alternates are sophomore Emma Steiner and freshman Lucy Bechtold.

With patience and focus the girls’ team earned with their second-place finish in Hinckley and the first berth to the Minnesota State Cross-Country meet as a team since 1993! The time for which alumnae and current parent of Louise ’25, Claudia ’28 and John ‘29; Rachel Wenner-Ruzanic ‘95 was a leading member of that state bound team nearly 30 years ago!

The girls’ team will be joined at the state meet by eighth grader Connon McMahon. He earned seventh place at the Section 5A race and received a spot to compete at the state meet.

The cross-country team are coached by Lance Nydeen, Stephen Woods ’09, Kurt Salzl ’87, Jen Drakkar, and Claire Kissela ’20.

Team Together

State Meet Details

Please wish our State participants Good Luck on November 2 at the University of Minnesota’s Les Bolsted Golf Course. Class A will have a start time of Girls Class A (SJP GIRLS’ TEAM): 2:30pm and Boys Class A (Connor McMahon ’29) at 3:15pm.