This weekend will be the first time in almost thirty years that the Minnesota State Cross Country Championships will be held at the University of Minnesota’s Les Bolstad Golf Course.

It will also be the first time in program history that the South Ridge Boy’s Cross Country team will be in attendance and the first time in 10 years for the girls.

For Head Coach Jeremy Polson, this season has been everything he’s dreamed of.

“This team together has just been beyond words. We’ve pushed each other, the guys work out with the girls in practice and every day it’s just fun to get together with them.”

Sometimes what makes a team better than their accolades or even their skills is the chemistry they have together, and with hour and thirty minute drive between schools, you’d think there wouldn’t be any, but that’s where you’re wrong.

“Cross country’s more of an individual sport in terms of the running, but as a team, we’re all great friends,” said Alex Burckhardt, a member of the team. “Being from different schools, we come down here, sometimes they drive up, we hang out, and it’s a great time.”

The race on Saturday will be the achievement of a lifetime for these runners, and the time they’ll have beats any time they’ll run, according to Scarlett Vanderscheuren.

“I’m looking forward to running in state for the first time because it’ll be a first time experience for a lot of our team, but just the memories that we’re going to make while we’re down there as well.”