AUSTIN — The Albert Lea cross country teams opened seasons of high expectations Tuesday at the Austin Invitational.

The Tigers boys’ team finished second of five teams and were led by Issac Staat, who transferred to Albert Lea from Washington, and Blair Bonnerup who finished within three seconds of each other in 11th and 12th place, respectively.

“The boys had a great race,” Tigers coach Jim Haney said. “It was nice to see Staat and Bonnerup make each other better by the way they pushed each other.”

The girls’ team finished third of five teams and were led by Chrissy Monson, who won the event in 15 minutes and .91 seconds. Monson defeated the race’s second finisher by more than 12 seconds.

“Chrissy is such a competitor,” Haney said. “It is a joy to watch her compete.”

The Tigers’ Haley Harms, an eighth-grader, finished in eighth place in 16:43.06.

The Tigers race again Friday at St. Olaf College in Northfield.

Albert Lea boys’ team at Austin Invitational

Team results

1. Owatonna 17

2. Albert Lea 66

3. Rochester Lourdes 91

4. Austin 98

5. Rochester John Marshall 99

Albert Lea results

11. Issac Staat 17:41

12. Blair Bonnerup 17:44

19. Luc Malimanek 18:17

21. Brandon Bonnerup 18:29

22. Jay Skaar 18:33

32. Sergio Chavez 19:06

60. Stuart Behling 20:41

64. Conner Larson 21:08

67. Herbie Lien 21:24

Albert Lea girls’ team at Austin Invitational

Team results

1. Owatonna 44

2. Austin 66

3. Albert Lea 71

4. Rochester John Marshall 78

5. Rochester Lourdes 96

Albert Lea results

1. Chrissy Monson 15:00

8. Haley Harms 16:43

15. Emma Behling 17:04

21. Morgan Haney 17:25

28. Rachel Kenis 17:34

29. Breanna Himmerich 17:40

33. Riley Schulz 17:53