OWATONNA &045; While the students may have enjoyed a week off for Easter vacation, some Albert Lea High School coaches did not. It meant they were short of athletes.

Coach Margo Wayne’s girls’ track and field team by forfeiting about a fourth of the events in a co-ed meet at Owatonna Tuesday, finishing last out of seven schools.

&uot;We were severely hampered by the absence of a number of vacationing athletes,&uot; said Wayne.

Owatonna won with 239 points, followed by Austin with 152, Hastings 111.5, Winona 110.5, New Prague 97, Park Center 91 and Albert Lea 70.

Emily Bartusek captured the Tigers’ lone individual first, winning the 400-meter dash. Cara Thorn was eighth in the event.

The Tigers had three seconds, in the 4×200-meter relay with Thorn, Bartusek, Andrew Irvine and Nate Lombardi, the 4×200 with Thorn, Bartusek, Cory Kuipers and Sean Harms, and the shot put with Alicia Reyerson, Andrea Irvine, Mike Veldman and Wade Kolling.

Kendra Olchefske and Andrea Irvine were the girls’ half of the fourth-place shot put team, with Irvine throwing 20 feet farther than her best toss from last year.

&uot;We had very good times and efforts by most of the girls,&uot; said Wayne. &uot;Only about half the team was there, but it was still a fun meet..&uot;

The Tigers travel to the NRHEG Invitational next Tuesday.