The Albert Lea boys’ and girls’ cross country teams traveled to Winona Saturday for the annual Jim Flim Invitational.

The boys’ team came in fourth place, reaching their goal of beating teams they normally are defeated by; and the girls’ team, while short-handed, turned in their best times of the season.

Senior Sonny Ortega-Roseli had the best finish for the boys’ team, coming in ninth place with a time of 17.21.6. Senior Travis Jensen was close behind, coming in 16th place with a time of 17:53.8. Rounding out the top five finishers for the Tigers were freshman Gavin Hanke in 22nd with a time of 18:13.9, senior Sam Louters in 25th with a time of 18:23.4 and senior Khan Mut in 27th place with a time of 18:30.3.

“The boys’ team seems to be coming together just at the right time for some of the biggest meets of the season,” said head coach Jim Haney. “We look forward to the challenge of what the Big Nine has to offer in the upcoming meets. We have a few injured runners coming back to competition and we look for them to help the team better as we approach the Big Nine meet in a few weeks.”

The girls’ team only saw two runners compete in the event. Sophomore Karime Ponciano came in 46th place with a time of 23:50.1 and freshman Joey Maiden came in 56th place with a time of 24:17.6.

Despite only having two runners in the race, Haney was pleased with how the girls ran.

“We were short handed today because of commitments and injuries,” he said. “These girls did a nice job of representing Albert Lea cross country. Both girls ran together and pushed each other to have the best time of the season. I am proud of the time and effort that these young ladies have put in. They are young and will only continue to get better with each meet they run in.”

The Tigers will be right back in action Tuesday afternoon when they travel to Mankato to take on a host of other teams at Minneopa Golf Course.

 

Meet results

BOYS’ RESULTS (16 TEAMS)

1. Onalaska 74

2. Faribault 84

3. Winona 96

4. Albert Lea 99

5. Rochester Century 118

Albert Lea individuals

9. Sonny Ortega-Roseli, 17:21.6

16. Travis Jensen, 17:53.8

22. Gavin Hanke, 18:13.9

25. Sam Louters, 18:23.4

27. Khan Mut, 18:30.3

 

GIRLS RESULTS (11 TEAMS)

1. Onalaska 27

2. Faribault 104

3. Belle Plaine 108

4. RAACHE 118

5. Winona 130

Albert Lea N/A

Albert Lea individuals

46. Karime Ponciano, 23:50.1

56. Joey Maiden, 24:17.6