Wayzata head coach Bill Miles has seen it all in his 40-plus seasons of high school cross country.

He has seen snow-covered state meets. He has seen others when the heat was a factor. And occasionally, there is a blustery wind or a slushy track due to rain.

Wayzata’s Connor Olson (350) leads the pack down the first hill during the Section 6AA meet Oct. 23 at Gale Woods Farm in Minnetrista. Among the Armstrong High runners pursuing Olson are Ben Kaufman (324), Nathan Comer (320) and Jon Delaney (321). Olson won the section individual title with a 5K time of 15:34. (Sun Sailor staff photo by John Sherman)

Like every other coach in the state, he likes hard ground and a fast track. At least that’s what he’s hoping for, going into the state Class AA boys meet, which begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at St. Olaf College in Northfield.

Miles is confident his Wayzata runners will give everything they have. And he knows what it’s like to chase the big prize.

The Trojan coach has won seven state titles – six at Wayzata and one in a previous stop at Cretin.

“On Saturday, it should be a three-team race between us, Edina and Stillwater,” said Miles. “Hutchinson might be the best of the rest.”

Wayzata established dominance over Stillwater with a victory at an invitational early in the season. The Trojans have defeated Edina in the Lake Conference and Section 6AA meets.

The Section 6AA race was a two-teamer between Wayzata and Edina. The Trojans won the head-to-head duel handily, 33-53. Other team scores were Hopkins 112, Minneapolis Southwest 117, Eden Prairie 139, Minneapolis Washburn 160, Minnetonka 196, Armstrong 211, Blake School 257, St. Louis Park 267, Cooper 289, Benilde-St. Margaret’s 326, Minneapolis South 344 and DeLaSalle 444.

“In almost any other section, teams like Hopkins, Minneapolis Southwest and Eden Prairie would be going to state,” said Miles. “It’s tough to get out of 6AA.”

One way a team does it is by working together. Miles has been pleased with the Trojans’ team chemistry all season, and they have a great leader in junior Connor Olson.

Olson took the section individual title over Edina’s Matt Lumbar by 18 seconds with a 5K time of 15 minutes, 34 seconds.

Edina took the next two spots with Lumbar and Logan Ramlet, then Wayzata’s other runners started showing up at the finish line.

Sophomore Jaret Carpenter placed fourth in 16:01, while junior Ian Eklin placed sixth in 16:08. The next Trojan to finish was senior Aaron Breyer, who took 10th place in 16:20. Junior Andrew Quirk was 12th in 16:21.1 and sophomore Nick Shaleen finished 14th in 16:21.3.

Even Wayzata’s seventh finisher, junior Jack Prazich, made the top 20 in a field of 103 runners. He placed 19th in 16:28.

“Before the race, we decided it would be good for Connor to go out fast, so he could prepare for the state meet. We know that Obsa Ali from Richfield will go out fast.”

Ali is ranked No. 1 in the state going into Saturday’s big race.

What are Miles’ expectations for Saturday?

“I just hope the kids go out there and have fun,” he said. “That’s what this is all about.”

Contact John Sherman at [email protected]