Forest Lake’s Norah Hushagen, Roseville’s Robert Mechura repeat as Class 3A cross-country champions

Roseville senior Robert Mechura and Forest Lake senior Norah Hushagen were repeat cross-country champions in their respective Class 3A races Saturday at the Minnesota State High School League championship meet.

Each runner conquered the 5,000-meter route at the Les Bolstad Golf Course on the University of Minnesota campus for the second consecutive year.

Hushagen ran with a reminder on her left forearm, “Not I, but through Christ in me.” She finished in 17 minutes, 32.3 seconds to lead a field that included Wayzata junior Maddie Gullickson (second by 16 seconds) and Forest Lake teammate Anna VanAcker, who placed third.

“It was really special this year to be aware but not be obsessed about anything,” Hushagen said. “Just because you did it once, that doesn’t mean you will automatically do it again. You still have to show up for the race.”

Mechura, meanwhile, also felt a little pressure to defend his title as he won the boys race in 15:03.7. He edged Minnetonka’s Sean Fries, who finished second in 15:06.5.

“It was certainly difficult because the past three or four meets, I was more laid back,” Mechura said. “It can be a little tough to snap back into the mode of having to compete the whole race. …

“There are a lot of great athletes who are pushing me the entire race. You don’t want to take anything for granted. A junior could beat a senior any time — just like what happened last year.”

Both runners took a moment to appreciate their sustained greatness.

Mechura said: “I always have to bring my best. I had confidence in my ability to win again.”

On the dangers of complacency, Hushagen said: “There were more challenges this year. I knew winning wasn’t a given.”

Wayzata won the girls title with 42 points; Forest Lake was second with 76. Edina won the boys team title with 106 points, six points better than Wayzata.

Maple Grove senior Gannon Farrens, one day after helping the Crimson take second at the boys soccer state tournament, finished 39th at the cross-country state meet.

St. Paul Highland Park’s girls program, led by top-two finishers Grace Lewis-Mosher and Claire Vukovics, took the team title with 53 points to second-place Alexandria’s 86.

Annandale senior Sal Wirth was the boys individual medalist with a time of 15:15.0.

Marshall secured the Class 2A boys team title with 73 points to Perham’s 81.

Staples-Motley junior Audrey Brownell ran to victory in the girls race in a time of 18:17.2.

Erik Semling, a freshman running for Winona Cotter/Hope, took boys medalist honors with his time of 15:23.5.

Redwood Valley won the boys team championship with 86 points, five ahead of Luverne. Winona Cotter took the girls team title with 116 points, five fewer than Redwood Valley.