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The No. 7 is traditionally lucky, and the Fairmont Cardinal boys cross country team is hoping that works in its favor today.

The Class A No. 7-ranked Cardinals are hoping their seventh straight appearance at the state meet is a positive one as the squad brings their best seven runners to the field at St. Olaf College in Northfield.

The Class A boys state race gets underway at 1 p.m. today.

Fairmont has placed 16th as a team the last two seasons, but finished fifth in 2006.

"We hope to place better than we have the last two years. ... Our goal would be to make it to the top 10," said Fairmont head coach Bob Bonk.

Fairmont arrived at the state meet by a close margin. No. 6-ranked South Central Conference rival Waseca scored 42 points to pocket the section title, while the Cardinals barely held off Martin County West for second place by a 74-82 score last Thursday at Cedar Creek Park in Fairmont.

The Cardinals did graduate three runners from last season's team, but are hoping their veteran runners can pick up the slack.

Sam Viesselman leads the way for Fairmont, as the junior is the top returner from last season's state qualifiers, taking 59th place in 17 minutes and 51.4 seconds.

Alex Hodges was next at state last year in 79th place in 18:13.2, while Robby Riley placed 87th in 19:19.6. Kevin Hanson is the fourth returning Cardinal, placing 96th in 18:37.3 last year.

Viesselman and Riley were both all-section during last Thursday's meet in helping Fairmont to state.

Viesselman placed eighth in 17:44, with Riley one place and one second behind.

Hodges took 13th place in 17:58 and Hanson was 21st in 18:21, while Andrew Hasek rounded out the counting places and times in 23rd in 18:26.

Justin McMurtry finished in 40th place in 18:57 and Patrick Kloeckner rounded out the team in 53rd place in 19:31.

But the Cardinals have run very bunched this season.

"We'll live or die with the pack," said Bonk.

While Martin County West was nosed out for a team state bid, two of their harriers will make the trip to Northfield.

Matt Stoffel and Adam Kleine both advanced, with Stoffel placing sixth at section in 17:36, while Kleine was 10th in 17:45 to earn the final qualifying spot.

Stoffel also qualified for state last season, placing 71st in 17:30.5.

From a team standpoint, there will be a new state champion as defending champion The Blake School did not qualify.

Top-ranked Perham claimed the Section 8 title and leads the way on paper.

"I'd say Perham (is the favorite). They scored 28 points at the section meet," said Bonk, noting Plainview/Elgin-Millville and Minnehaha Academy also are strong.

No. 3-ranked Plainview-Elgin-Millville, No. 6-ranked Waseca, No. 9-ranked Jackson County Central, No. 2-ranked Minnehaha Academy, No. 4-ranked St. Cloud Cathedral, No. 5-ranked Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, Esko and top-ranked Perham advanced to state as respective section champions in Sections 1-8.

Winona Cotter, No. 7-ranked Fairmont, No. 11-ranked Adrian, No. 8-ranked Holy Family Catholic, Mora, No. 12-ranked Albany, Eveleth-Gilbert and Staples-Motley also qualified for state via runner-up finishes in the respective sections.

There also will be a new individual champion crowned as Warroad's Moses Heppner graduated, leaving The Blake School's Paul Koullick as the top returner.

Koullick finished third individually last season in 16:15.5.

The Cardinals also are not looking past the accomplishment that seven straight trips to state means.

"You can't take that for granted. This group has a tremendous work ethic. ... I told them that what they did the last six months had to do with what they did (last) Thursday than what they did Thursday," said Bonk.