atoms

The next runner that has potential to do great things this year is Joe Klecker of Hopkins. After being hurt last cross country season and not able to run in the state meet, Joe’s looking for a redemption year. Missing his junior year could set him back quite a ways though. But with his determination and his third place finish at the state meet in 2012, he will come back stronger than ever. Joe Klecker looks to have a good team this year that could make it to state for the first time in a long time. With that competition helping to push him, he’ll be able to be very close to Connor Olson. He might even beat Connor in some meets this year but probably not the state meet. According to milesplit, Joe ran a 15:24 has a sophomore and didn’t get a chance to top that his junior year. He was the fastest sophomore in 2012. He has lots of talent and has lots of anger built up for missing his junior year.

A younger contender that is a bit inconsistent, but still seems to show up in the big races is Joey Duerr of Chaska. He has a tendency to end up injured during the season, but somehow runs at the state meet. The runner does show up in big races though. According to milesplit Joey ran a 15:57 his freshman year at state finishing eighth. During Duerr’s sophomore year he ended up sixth running a 15:32. During Joey’s junior year he actually was hurt and wasn’t able to participate at the end of the year. Each one of these years he ended up hurt at some point during the season. Joey ends up putting to many miles on and ends up having to take some weeks of to rest. It’s not a very good thing to take those weeks off in the middle of training, but he does dominate at the state meet. Other than the state meet though you usually don’t see him running any crazy fast times or winning many races. If he would cut down on the miles some he would have a breakout season and run great all season long. Like Joe Klecker, he will also have a lot to prove his senior year after missing his senior year. Look out for a battle for second place between a good consistent runner in Joe Klecker and a very inconsistent runner in Joey Duerr that always runs his best at the state meets.