Austin Packers Cross-Country teams compete at Big 9 Conference meet Tuesday

The Austin Packers cross-country teams traveled to Brooktree Golf Course in Owatonna for the Big 9 Conference meet Tuesday, and in the boys division, it was the Packers finishing 12th with 301 points.  Mankato East was the runaway winner with 29 points, with Northfield a distant second at 82 team points.  Winona was third overall with 105 points, followed by Mankato West in fourth with 127 points and the host Huskies in fifth with 131 points to round out the top five.

Sophomore Thomas Asmus ran the top time for Austin Tuesday, as he finished 19th overall with a time of 17:12, sophomore Jonas Hovland was 56th with a time of 18:35.3, junior Jackson Hilkin was 73rd with a final time of 19:34.5, senior Riley Ferguson was 75th Tuesday with a time of 19:46, and junior Noah Sash was 78th with a final time of 19:58.2.

In the girls division, Austin took 10th overall with 212 points.  Northfield was the winner by a wide margin with 44 points, followed by Rochester Century a distant second at 93 points.  Host Owatonna was third with 124 team points, followed by Mankato West in fourth with 131 points and Mankato East in fifth with 163 points.

Freshman Sydney Lewis and junior Marissa Shute led the Packers Tuesday by finishing 14th and 15th, respectively, with times of 19:58.4 and 20:09.7, senior Grace Votherms took 49th Tuesday with a final time of 21:51.3, fellow senior Lillyan Wiese was 64th with a time of 23:00 flat, and 7th grader Alexcia Austin was 70th with a time of 23:31.3.

Next up for both squads will be the Section 1AA meet to be held in Albert Lea on Thursday, October 26th.