Anna French leads the Wayzata High girls cross country team into the state meet this week. Above, she finishes first in the Section 6AA meet Oct. 23 at Gale Woods Farm. (Sun Sailor staff photo by John Sherman)

On the surface, the answer to the new question looks like a no, but Trojan head coach Dave Emmans is taking nothing for granted.

“You can never tell for sure going into a state meet,” said Emmans. “But if we run our best, we’ll do alright.”

The Trojans obliterated the competition at state last fall and have basically the same team this year with 2012 state runner-up Anna French leading the pack.

French was an easy winner in the Section 6AA meet Oct. 23 at Gale Woods Farm in Minnetrista. She covered the 4K course in 14 minutes, 8 seconds. Second and third places also went to Trojan runners. Ninth-grader Annika Lerdall was second in 14:33 and senior Annika Halverson finished third in 14:34. Senior Alayna Sonnesyn gave the Trojans fifth place in 14:40 and another WHS senior, Mary Franke, was seventh in 14:41.

All seven of Wayzata’s entrants finished in the top 10 in a field of 95 runners. Sophomore Michaela Keller-Miller took eighth place in 14:43. Senior McKenna Evans was ninth in 14:46.

Talking about the top-10 surge, Emmans said, “That was unbelievable, just beautiful to watch. I liked how our girls worked together during the race. Last year, the course here was firmer, but this year all of our girls ran faster.

“Anna [French] had a good race. She always wants things to work out perfectly. I feel really good about her fitness … Her time was 10 seconds faster than it was in last year’s section meet.”

Wayzata won the section crown with 18 points, only three points higher than a perfect score, so the real race was for second place.

Since the second-place team advances to state along with the champion, competition between Eden Prairie, Edina and Minnetonka was intense.

Eden Prairie scored 86 to win the state berth, while Edina and Minnetonka both had 92 points.

“I thought Edina’s depth might carry them through,” said Emmans. “But Eden Prairie seems to come up big almost every year. Minnetonka coach Jane Reimer-Morgan brought her team out of nowhere to challenge for a spot.”

There was a time not long ago when Wayzata was the up-and-coming team, like Minnetonka is this year.

“I remember when Eden Prairie had great teams,” said Emmans. “And I wondered how we would ever catch them. Well, it’s kind of our time right now. And the girls are enjoying the moment.”

Of course, they will enjoy their time together even more if they can win a second-consecutive state title Saturday, Nov. 2, at St. Olaf College in Northfield. The girls Class AA race is scheduled for 10 a.m.

Contact John Sherman at [email protected]