By Eric Erickson,
Sports analysis
The Como Park High School boys cross-country team entered the 2025 season knowing that a team trophy at the state meet was within reach.
The Cougars returned all their varsity scorers after finishing fourth in state during the 2024 campaign. Coach Tim Kersey saw his team make steady gains through each of their four previous state meets, rising from 14th to 11th place, then to ninth and then to fourth.
But all the way to the top?
It would take an amazing race with personal bests to beat the field at the Minnesota Class AA State Meet.
And that’s exactly what the Cougars produced: They ran their best race of the season at the most critical time.
“To execute under pressure is the challenge at the state meet, and everyone found a way to help the team,” Kersey said. “Their performances were exceptional.”
Como junior Charlie Loth ran the best race of his life to date, hanging with the lead pack and then pulling away from the competition down the home stretch. He crossed the finish line for the 5K course with a personal record of 15:31, becoming Minnesota’s Class AA individual state champion.
“Charlie’s state championship run was sensational,” Kersey said. “Even splits right on target and stayed off the lead until there were only a few in contention and with his endurance, kick and determination, he won the race.”
Loth was immediately pulled aside by a couple of members of the media to ask about his historic run—a first for Como Park. But all Charlie wanted to do was track his teammates.
Senior Ben Clark came across the line at 15:49, good for ninth place in a field of 160 runners. Junior Arthur Anderson was next in 11th place at 15:56. Both of those times were personal records and earned all-state honors.
Senior Hazel Small placed 23rd in the team competition with a season-best time of 16:25, and sophomore Logan Small secured the title with a 37th-place finish and a personal-record time of 16:42.
The combination of those results were instantly tallied on the big scoreboard, revealing a score of 75 for Como Park, 14 ahead of top-ranked Perham’s 89, and 57 points clear of third-place Orono.
Como fans erupted, exhausted runners embraced and Anderson worked his way over to find his friend Loth who was still being interviewed.
“Charlie, we did it! We won!” Anderson yelled.
It was a clean sweep for the Cougars. The Como Park cross country boys had won the individual and team state titles for 2025—the first of each in program history.
“After last year’s state meet it seemed likely that Perham would be in contention, and they ran great on Saturday,” Kersey said about the top-ranked team going into the meet. “But in our pre-meet meeting we just reviewed the section results and reminded them that rankings are not races. We thought we were the team to beat at state.”
Beyond the championship results, Como cross country continues to be a supportive community for all those who are willing and able to experience running.
The Como girls have added depth to their roster and are now a formidable team in Section 4AA competition, finishing third, just three points shy of qualifying for state as a team.
Freshman Lu Beckman and junior Lilly Coyle qualified as individuals for their third and second consecutive state meet respectively.
The state championships were celebrated by all—the runners, the alternates, supportive teammates, friends and family. It was the culmination of many dedicated years.
“This means everything,” said Loth with a massive smile on his face.
Eric Erickson is a teacher at Como Park Senior High School.
Photo cutline: The Como Park boys cross-country team earned the Minnesota Class AA State Championship on Nov. 1 at the University of Minnesota Golf Course. It was the Cougars’ fifth consecutive state meet appearance and their first title. Photo by Eric Erickson.
