Area runners compete at State Girls Cross-Country Meet Saturday

Three area runners competed at the Minnesota State High School Girls Cross-Country Meet at the University of Minnesota’s Les Bolstad Golf Course Saturday, and competing for the Austin Packers were junior Marissa Shute, who was making her third appearance at the state meet and freshman Sydney Lewis, who was making her second appearance.  Shute, who was 51st last year at St. Olaf College in Northfield took a huge jump forward this year as she finished 32nd Saturday with a time of 19:32.8.  Lewis, who was 107th last year also took a massive step foward this year as she finished 60th Saturday with a time of 20:04.5.  Hutchinson’s Isabelle Schmitz was the individual winner by a wide margin with a time of 17:56.5, nearly a minute ahead of second-place Isabel Mahoney of Monticello, who ran a time of 18:12.2.  Marshall took home the team State Class AA title with 81 points, 20 points clear of second place St. Paul Highland Park and Alexandria, who both finished with 101 points.

In the State Class A Meet, freshman Kya McManus made her first appearance at state for the Pacelli Shamrocks Saturday, and McManus finished 34th overall with a time of 20:06.8.  Olivia Pauly of St. John’s Prep was the individual champion with a time of 18:20.5, :11 seconds better than second-place Audrey Brownell of Staples-Motley, who ran a time of 18:31.6.  St. Cloud Catherdral took home the Class A team title with a total of 68 points, with Staples-Motley a distant second with 125 points.