The Albert Lea boys’ and girls’ cross country teams took part in the Mankato West Invitational Tuesday afternoon at Minneopa Golf Course.

While the girls’ team was able to field a full team again after injuries, the boys’ team came away with its second second-place finish in nine days.

The boys’ team had three runners finish in the top 10, which earned them a second-place finish behind Mankato East.

Leading the way for the Tigers was senior and first-year runner Sam Louters, coming in seventh place overall with a time of 17:57.52. Freshman Gavin Hanke and junior Aaron Bauers were right behind in eighth and ninth place with times of 18:03.83 and 18:05.43, respectively.

Rounding out the top five for Albert Lea were junior Logan Barr in 13th place with a time of 18:32.70, and senior Sonny Ortega-Roseli in 14th place with a time of 18:33.04.

Head coach Jim Haney talked about the upcoming road to the Big Nine Conference meet.

“We will have about nine days to get ready for the heart of the season, which is running in Owatonna three times in the next four races,” Haney said. “We have a good idea of the competition in the Big Nine and we know that we have a very good opportunity to do very well at the Big Nine meet if we stay healthy and run to the best of our abilities.”

After fielding only two runners at a meet over the weekend, the girls’ team came back and ran six at the Mankato West Invite.

Sophomore Karime Ponciano was once again the top finisher for the Tigers, coming in 14th place overall with a time of 22:51.35. The freshman duo of Jaira Maligaya and Joey Maiden came in 21st and 28th places respectively, with times of 23:24.36 and 24:09.99.

Junior Jaiden Venem came in 40th place with a time of 25:26.70 and junior Katelyn Uthke finished in 48th place with a time of 26:37.19.

“The girls are getting better each week and look to make major strides in the next four weeks as we get ready for the Big Nine and the section meet,” Haney said.

The Tigers next meet is Oct. 3, when they will have their first look at the Big Nine Conference course in Owatonna.

 

Meet results

Boys’ results

1. Mankato East 25

2. Albert Lea 51

3. Rochester Mayo 76

4. Austin 106

5. Mankato West 120

Albert Lea individuals

7. Sam Louters, 17:57.52

8. Gavin Hanke, 18:03.83

9. Aaron Bauers, 18:05.43

13. Logan Barr, 18:32.70

14. Sonny Ortega-Roseli, 18:33.04

 

Girls’ results

1. Mankato West 41

2. Mankato East 57

3. Rochester Mayo 75

4. Austin 94

5. Albert Lea 125

Albert Lea individuals

14. Karime Ponciano, 22:51.35

21. Jaira Maligaya, 23:24.36

28. Joey Maiden, 24:09.99

40. Jaiden Venem, 25:26.70

48. Katelyn Uthke, 26:37.19