Minnesota State Meet History

In 1943 the meet was initiated and run at Northrop Field at the University of Minnesota. This meet was run at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis from 1944 thru 1963. Between 1964 and 1990 it was run at the University of Minnesota Golf Course. In 1991 it was run at Arrowwood Golf Course in Alexandria and from 1992 through 2022 at St. Olaf College in Northfield. The race was 1.8 miles long until 1964 when it was lengthened to 2 miles. Between 1969 and 1973 a short 3 mile course was run. It was lengthened to a legitimate 3 mile course in 1974. Since 1979 it has been 5000 meters. In 1992 the course was 5130 meters long (the blizzard had made designing an accurate course a minor concern. At St. Olaf the next year, they left the hills in, but got the distance right. From 1994 to 2001 the course was unchanged. In 2002 the finish was changed and the course was 5080 meters long. In 2003 it was returned to 5000 m. In 2015, the course was adjusted to add the 1km Prairie Loop. In 2017, the finishing 400 was rerouted to hug the edge of the starting box and go around the trees, and the course measured long. In 2020, the MSHSL state meet was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In place of it, TC Running Company sponsored a club style meet for all the top teams and individuals in Minnesota. The meet was held in Atwater at Island Pine Golf Course and was run in waves of 4 teams at a time and results were compiled to determine the champion. Beginning in 2023, the University of Minnesota Golf Course will return to hosting the state meet with a new 5000m course, unique to the state meet.

The state meet was originally conducted as a single class for public schools with a separate meet for private schools. In 1975, the MSHSL separated schools into 2 classes and brought the private and public schools together. It remained that way until 2021 when a 3rd class was added. Presently, the largest 64 schools in Minnesota makeup class AAA, the next 96 largest schools AA, and the remaining schools are class A. To see results from every state meet, click on the "MSHSL State Meet Results" link to go to Bill Miles' MN Prep Track History site.