Meet the Class 3A, 2A and 1A boys cross-country state champions

Meet the Class 3A, 2A and 1A boys cross-country state champions Eastview’s Luke Bakken pulled ahead in the final 100 meters in 3A. In 2A, Winona Cotter’s Erik Semling became the first three-time boys champ. St. Paul Como Park’s Charlie Loth rallied to defend his 1A title. Comment Gift Share By Joe Christensen The Minnesota Star Tribune November 7, 2026 at 2:31 PM The Class 3A boys cross-country state championship race came down to a familiar showdown Saturday. Eastview senior Luke Bakken needed to catch Rosemount’s Channing Goodwin. For the third straight time, Bakken did it again, this time for the state title, as he finished the 3.1-mile course in 15 minutes and 6.9 seconds. “There were some points where Channing and [Two Rivers’ Max Molinaro] pulled away from me, but I just brought it back, gave myself a chance the last 100 [meters],” Bakken said. “You know, it just felt great to kick and win. I think I have a pretty good kick, so it was fun.” Goodwin, who’s also a standout hockey player for Rosemount, finished second in 15 minutes, 7.5 seconds, with Molinaro in third at 15:14.8. “It’s hard to be that close and then not do it,” Goodwin said. “The last three races he got me the exact same way.” Minneapolis Washburn won the Class 3A boys team championship, defeating second-place Wayzata by one point. Wayzata had defeated Washburn in the Section 6 race, but the Millers got their revenge and their first boys state title in cross country. Semling wins third state title Winona Cotter junior Erik Semling became the first Minnesota boys cross-country runner to win three state titles, regardless of class. Semling finished in 15:16.2 to win the Class 1A state championship. Cotter teammate Ryan Littlefield was second in 15:37.7. The two helped lead Winona Cotter-Hope to its first team cross-country state title. ADVERTISEMENT advertisement “I think everybody was very focused today because I think all the last couple of years, we could maybe have done it,” Semling said. “But we needed the right day and we needed to perform today.” Semling and Littlefield are big reasons the Ramblers have reached the top. “I think it helps pull other people along,” Littlefield said. “Because they see [Semling’s] success and how hard he trains, as well as me, and they can see what results happen when you work hard.” Related Coverage Potential historic three-peat headlines boys cross-country state meet Boys Cross Country Meet the Class 3A, 2A and 1A girls cross-country state champions Girls Cross Country Loth repeats in 2A The final race of the day — the boys Class 2A championship — brought the whole meet to an exciting crescendo, as sunshine turned back to cold. St. Paul Como Park senior Charlie Loth came from behind to defend his state championship from a year ago. After crossing the finish line, he passed out and was quickly tended to by two staff members. Loth emerged from the medical tent looking revived. “I think this year was way harder than it was last year,” Loth said. “Throughout the whole race, it felt like I kept going up another notch of intensity, from the beginning to the end.” advertisement Loth finished in 15:10.1, followed by Detroit Lakes junior Connor Malecka (15:17.0).Loth is committed to Northeastern, where he will run cross country and track and field. In the Class 2A team competition, Perham held off Mankato East to win its ninth state championship, the first since 2019. Share Comment About the Author Joe Christensen Strib Varsity Enterprise Reporter Joe Christensen is our Strib Varsity Enterprise Reporter and moved into this position after several years as an editor. Joe graduated from the University of Minnesota and spent 15 years covering Major League Baseball, including stops at the Riverside Press-Enterprise and Baltimore Sun. He joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2005. See More advertisement advertisement More From Boys Cross Country Minnesota boys cross-country state meet preview: Champions return, challengers close in Boys Cross Country Meet the Class 3A, 2A and 1A girls cross-country state champions Girls Cross Country advertisement advertisement