The Big Lake boys cross country team finished 12th at the MN State 2A Championships last Saturday at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights.

Two seniors led the Hornets, who were making their fifth consecutive trip to the state meet. Trent Erickson set a personal best time and placed 32nd overall in 16:22.2. Gavin Flavin was a few steps back in 37th in 16:25.1. Both runners were more than 30 seconds faster than they ran at last year’s state meet.

It was Flavin’s fourth state appearance, once as an alternate in 2022 and as a competitor in 2023, 2024, and 2025. For Erickson, it marked his third consecutive state meet as a competitor.

Theo Johnson was next in 84th in 17:03.3, nearly 50 seconds faster than his time last year. Big Lake’s final two point scorers finished close together. Sophomore Max Baron was 130th in a personal best 17:58.9, breaking the 18-minute barrier for the first time and Jack Schmidt placed 131st in 18:01.6.

Eli Henning (141st, 18:17.5) improved by more than 30 second over last year and Eli Schaller, in his first year in cross-country, placed 154th in 19:12.3.

Ninth-grader Shay France set a personal record and finished 37th in the girls varsity 5000 meters, crossing the finish line in 19.31.3, concluding an impressive first year on the team.

After competing in soccer the past two years, she joined the cross-country team this fall and quickly became the Hornets’ top runner.

    “Shay kept learning and improving every race - figuring out her pacing, getting stronger, and becoming more confident,” said Coach Trutna. “With the core of the girls’ team being seventh to ninth graders, we are hopeful that they too can make it to state as a team in upcoming years.”

Section 5AA Meet

For the fifth straight season, the Hornet boys’ cross country team is heading to state. They finished second behind Becker at the Section 5AA meet Thursday at Apollo High School. 

The Big Lake boys team and ninth-grader Shay France have all qualified to run in the State Meet this weekend at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights.   

Senior Gavin Flavin led the Hornets with a fifth-place finish in 16:22.

Senior Trent Erickson followed in 10th in 16:52.  “Trent probably had a slower start to the season than he would have wished, but he is coming on now at the perfect time,”  Coach Trutna said.

Theo Johnson ran a season-best 16:55 to finish 11th and Jack Schmidt was next in 14th in 17:12.     

Another season best came from the team’s final scorer, Eli Henning, who placed 19th in 17:52. Max Baron (22nd, 18:19) and Eli Schaller (49th, 19:09) rounded out the varsity seven.

Girls Squad

The girls’ team turned in their best performance of the year, finishing sixth in the 12-team field, just one point out of fifth.

Freshman Shay France once again led the way, placing 11th in 20:20 to qualify as an individual for the Minnesota State Meet.

Hazel Guldseth continued her breakout season, finishing 26th in 21:58. Both Elsie Jagusch and Clara Devine ran season-best times, placing 33rd (22:27) and 34th (22:29) respectively

Ainsley McGuire also had a personal best, finishing 47th in 23:16 to round out Big Lake’s scoring.

Aubri Judge was close behind in 52nd (23:52), just off her season best. Senior Brynn Scheer, running in her final high school race, placed 68th (29:03).

“It’ll be hard to see Brynn leave,” said Coach Trutna. “She’s been a great captain. Her thoughtfulness and determination will be missed.”