When: Sunday, June 15, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where: All American Sports Bar, Mall of America
(park in the East Ramp, go to the 4th floor, the banquet room is attached to America's Original Sports Bar which is by Jillians)

Call GEAR toll-free at 1-866-937-4327 with any questions or to reserve tickets.

We felt that there was not enough recognition of the top high school runners in our state and we decided to do something about it. We modeled our program after some of the awards in other sports, like a Mr. Basketball or Ms. Basketball with elements of the Heisman Trophy and Hobey Baker awards. The second annual Minnesota Runner of the Year awards.

Each year, a committee of some of the top high make up a selection committee. The coaches select 25 boys and 25 girls as semi-finalists for Runner of the Year. The semi-finalist runners are invited to the awards dinner, where the overall winner for boys and girls are announced. Last year, Vanessa Clarida of Bloomington-Kennedy and Tom Schmidt of Faribault won the award. Click here to read more about last years awards dinner.

Congratulations to this year's semi-finalists!

Boys
Wolvie Bekelcha, St. Paul Arlington:
Jon Boyd, Mankato East
Luke Bryant, Alexandria
Collin Bushman, Stillwater
Aaron Buzard, Rochester Mayo
Craig Dahl, Mankato East
Chris Erichsen, Kingsland
Neil Grosscup, Minneapolis Southwest
Garrett Heath, Winona
Ibrihim Kabia, Champlin
Mike Krisch, Hopkins
Will Leer, Minnetonka
Pat Lehman, Plainview
Greg Liebl, Montevideo
Lawrence Lipsey, Kennedy
P.J. Nelson, Grand Rapids
Eric Palmquist, Warroad
Ed Reeves, Edina
Shayne Shaw, Eastview
Hans Storvich, Mankato West
Forrest Tahdooahnippah, Minneapolis Southwest
Mike Van Beusekom, Irondale
David Van Ordsel, Hopkins
Justin Tuomela, North St. Paul
Mike Yard, Maple Grove

Girls
Ladia Albertson, Stillwater
Katie Anderson, Blaine
Shannon Bergstedt, Hopkins
Lauren Bergstrom, Rochester Century
Nicole Calabrese, Kingsland
Brenna Carey, Big Lake
Vanessa Clarida, Bloomigton Kennedy
Gina Dare, Apple Valley
Sara Decker, Rocori
Heidi Evans, Roseau:
Sara Fredrickson, Elk River
Kyndal Hargrow, Blake
Sandy Jorgenson, Woodbury
Rebekkah Kok, Anoka
Molly Lehman, Minnetonka
Alison Liewen, Minnetonka
Heidi Lindeman, Coon Rapids
Kati Newgard, Pipestone
Liz Palkie, Carlton Wrenshall
Makeala Raddatz, Eastview
Rachel Stangler, Albany
Lisa Waananen, Maple Grove
Andrea Wahlin, Rocori
Elizabeth Yetzer, Lakevillew