Success in sprints propelled the Albert Lea girls’ track and field team to 53 points and second place at the Tigers’ only home meet of the season.

Becca Dup and Dora Ogunkanbi claimed the top two spots in the 100-meter dash along with third and fourth in the 200 Tuesday during a triangular at the Hammer Complex.

Mankato East won the meet with 101 points, and Winona was third with 32.

Less than three tenths of a second separated Dup and Ogunkanbi in each race.

“We push each other, and we go back and forth all the time in placing,” said Dup. “It’s a lot of fun.”

In practice, Albert Lea coach Margo Wayne utilized a parachute with the sprinters to add drag and build strength.

“It makes it so our starts are more powerful out of the blocks,” Dup said.

All of the Tigers’ individual first-place finishes were by seniors: Dup won the 100 in 13.65 seconds, Anna Englin took gold in the 800 with a time of 2:34.38 and Emily Ortiz won the 3,200 in 12:51.58. Albert Lea also won the 4×400-meter relay.

“These girls have been working extremely hard all season, and their times are still coming down,” said Wayne. “I’m so proud and happy for them.”

In addition to finishing second in the 4×200 and 4×800 relays, the Tigers took silver in three individual events: Ogunkanbi in the 100 (13.77), Breanna Himmerich in the 3,200 (2:54.67) and Lindsey Horejsi in the 400 (1:03.16).

“In the open 400, she performed really well,” Wayne said about Horejsi. “She’s one very gifted athlete and a tremendous young lady.”

Franceska Eckstrom led Albert Lea in the hurdles by taking bronze in both events. She finished the 100 hurdles in 19.31 seconds and the 300 in 56.34.

In field events, the Tigers were led by Sarah DeHaan, Alexis Rothmeier, Allison Christenson and Katelyn Hendrickson.

DeHaan cleared 4-4 in the high jump to take third. Rothmeier and Christenson tied for third place in the pole vault at 6 feet and Katelyn Hendrickson took third in the triple jump with a leap of 29-9 1/2.

Next, Albert Lea will compete in the Big Nine Conference Meet at 10:30 a.m. May 22 at Mankato East.