Austin Packers cross-country teams host home 8-team invitational Tuesday

The Austin Packers boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams played host to their lone home meet of the 2022 season at Meadow Greens Golf Course Tuesday, and in the boys results, Winona and Albert Lea tied for first in the 8-team field with 46 points apiece, followed by Lake City in third with 86 points, then came the Packers close behind in fourth with with 89 points, GMLOS took fifth with 127 points, Byron and LaCrescent-Hokah tied for sixth with 174 points and Pacelli was eighth with 212 points.

For Austin, senior Thomas Herrick ran the best time for the Packers Tuesday as he took fifth overall over the 5000 meter course with a time of 17:36.34, senior Joseph Hilikin was 17th with a time of 18:31.68, freshman Thomas Asmus was 21st for Austin with a final time of 18:47.48, sophomore teammate Noah Sash was right behind in 22nd with a time of 18:49.62 and senior Cade Morrison was 24th with a time of 18:53.69.  Senior Cohen Wiste ran the best time for the GMLOS Bulldogs as he was 29th with a time of 19:28.88 and Pacelli Shamrocks sophomore Yong Achuoth registered the best finish for the squad as he was 34th with a time of 19:48.06.  Senior Gavin Hanke and junior Isaiah McGaffey, both from Albert Lea finished 1-2 overall with times of 17:32.22 and 17:27.10, respectively.

In the girls’ team competition, Lake City was first with 54 team points, followed by Byron in second with 68 points, Austin was close behind in third with 70 points, then came Winona in fourth with 84 points, the Albert Lea Tigers were fifth with 121 points, GMLOS took sixth with 170 team points, LaCrescent-Hokah finished seventh with 174 points and Pacelli took eighth with 184 points.

Indivudually for Austin, sophomore Marissa Shute took third with a time of 20:39.82 seconds, eighth-grader Sydney Lewis was fifth with a time of 21:14.04, fellow eighth-grader Kya McManus finished eighth with a final time of 21:35.27, junior Grace Votherms was 24th Tuesday with a time of 22:40.14 and junior Lilly Wiese ran a time of 23:31.78, good for 30th place overall.  Senior McKenna Hendrickson ran the best time for GMLOS Tuesday of 20:54.72, good for fourth place and sophomore Lexi Lewis of Pacelli ran the best time for the Shamrocks at 22:09.40, which was good for 16th place.

Both Austin boys and girls cross-country teams will be back in action at the Big 9 meet at Brooktree Golf Course in Owatonna, with the action getting started next Tuesday, October 18th at 3:55 p.m.