Austin, Blooming Prairie cross-country teams open 2020 seasons Friday

The Austin Packers boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams opened the 2020 season Friday in Mankato versus the West Scarlets, and in the boys’ competition, although Jackson Marsh took first place, the Scarlets edged out the Packers 28-29.

Marsh’s time of 17:40.9 was 38 seconds better than second-place finisher Will Simmons of West, who ran a time of 18:18.2.  Joseph Garry was fouth for Austin with a time of 18:52.9, Thomas Herrick took fifth for Austin with a time of 18:54.9, Kyle Mayer was seventh with a time of 19:14 and Kaden Murley ran a time of 20:50 for 12th place.

West was also first in the girl’s competition by a score of 23-34 as Marissa Shute ran the best time for the Packers at 22:48.9, good for third overall.  Cassidy Shute was fourth with a time of 23:28.9, Grace Vortherms took sixth for Austin with a time of 24:03.4, Nadia Vaughn was ninth as she ran a time of 25:25.5, Lauren Schmitt was 13th, finishing with a time of 17:30.6 and Micha Weber was 14th for the Packers with a time of 27:51.8.

Both Austin squads are back into action this afternoon at home at Meadow Greens Golf Course in a Big 9 dual with Albert Lea, with the girls set to start at 3:30, with the boys scheduled to follow at 5:00 p.m.

The Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams opened the 2020 campaign at the Tiger Trail Run cross-country meet at Medford Friday, and in the boys results, the host Tigers were first with a score of 24, followed by Maple River in second with 42 points and the Blossoms third with 60.

Hosea Baker ran the best time for Blooming Prairie, finishing eighth overall with a time of 20:56, Alex Miller was 11th with a time of 22.12, Jesse Cardenas was 12th with a time of 22:20, Luke Larkoski finished 13th after running a time of 22.21, Dylan Johnson was 16th for the Blossoms at 22:56 and Ty Forystek was 17th with a time of 23:02.

In the girls competition, Maple River was first with a score of 23, followed by the Blossoms with 33 points and the host Tigers took third.  In her first-ever varsity cross-country meet, Megan Oswald led the Blossoms with a time of 27:51, which was good for third overall.  Emily Miller was sixth with a time of 28:36, Chloe McCarthy was eighth with a time of 29:16, Abby Smith took ninth place with a final time of 29:19,Maggie Bruns was 12th with a time of 30:12 and Asha Lighthizer took 14th for the Blossoms with a time of 30:33.