Rogers' Cara Back Heads to State Cross-Country Meet
Back qualified for the Class 3A girls state meet, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, at Majestic Oaks Golf Course in Ham Lake.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Track & Field
Rogers High School senior Cara Back has qualified for the 2026 Minnesota State High School League Class 3A girls cross-country meet, which will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. at Majestic Oaks Golf Course in Ham Lake. Teammate Addie Porter will also compete in the race.
Why it matters
Back's qualification reflects a multi-year rise, including a 25th-place finish as a junior and All-State honors in 2024 and 2025. Her result will show whether her early-season form, including a win at the Norm Ayen Invitational, carries into the state championship.
Back has advanced from 25th as a junior to All-State recognition in 2024 and 2025, with a 15th-place finish in 2024. The Class 3A girls race covers 5 kilometers, and her final placing at the Nov. 7 meet remains to be seen.
The players
Cara Back
A Rogers High School senior distance runner who has earned All-State honors and plans to run for North Dakota State University's women's cross-country team.
Addie Porter
A Rogers High School runner who will also compete at the 2026 Class 3A girls cross-country state meet.
The details
Back, a Rogers High School senior, first qualified for state in 2021 and won the Norm Ayen Invitational on Sept. 29 at Purple Hawk Golf Course in Cambridge. Her stated goal is to finish in the top 10 and earn a medal.
Timeline
2021: Back first qualifies for the state meet.
2024: Back earns All-State honors with a 15th-place finish.
Tuesday, Sept. 29: Back wins the Norm Ayen Invitational.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m.: 2026 Class 3A girls state cross-country race at Majestic Oaks Golf Course in Ham Lake.
Wednesday, June 2, 2027: Back graduates from Rogers High School.
Season Trajectory
Back's qualification places her among the Class 3A girls runners competing for individual state honors under the Minnesota State High School League's postseason format. Her progression from a 25th-place finish as a junior to All-State honors shows how state-meet placement can build across a high school career.
Fans following Rogers cross-country can track Back and Porter in the Class 3A girls race on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. at Majestic Oaks Golf Course in Ham Lake. Back's top-10 goal would be a meaningful result within the field.
The takeaway
Back's progression from a 25th-place junior finish to All-State honors shows steady improvement over several seasons. Her state-meet result on Nov. 7 will be the next measure of that development.
What happens next
The 2026 Class 3A girls state cross-country race is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. at Majestic Oaks Golf Course in Ham Lake.
Further reading
For more Minnesota high school results, browse the Minnesota Track & Field section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hometownsource.
