Albert Lea freshman cross country runner Chrissy Monson picked up her third victory of the season Thursday in Winona at the Winona Invite.

Monson used a 42-second lead to cross the finish line in a time of 15 minutes, 25 seconds to win the Winona Invite.

Monson has not finished worse than fourth at a meet this season and looks to be hitting her stride.

“Chrissy has been very focused as we move into the biggest part of season,” said Albert Lea cross country head coach Jim Haney. “She loves the challenges the course and her competitors offer. She is right where we would like her to be at this time in the season. She is a champion and ran like one today, an outstanding effort by an outstanding young lady.”

Monson’s victory helped guide the Tigers to a fifth place finish with 125 points. Mayo won the meet with 33 points and Winona finished second with 42 points.

Follwing Monson, was Rachel Kenis, Ashley Tewes, and Sam Stanley, who all finished within a spot of each other. Kenis finished in 29th with a time of 18:20. Tewes was right behind, finishing 30st, and crossing the line at 18:27. Stanley came in at 31st, with a time of 18:30.

Rounding out the lineup for Albert Lea was Annabelle Randall, who finished in 18:40 to take home 34th. Lauren Klick was next with a time of 19:07 and Carol Lein was not far behind, finishing in 19:08.

While the team took home fifth place, Coach Haney likes how the team is gelling together as the season progresses.

“All of these girls did their best and pushed until the very end,” he said. “I have really liked how the team has worked together to make each other better.”

On the boys’ side, the Tigers were led by a strong performance turned in by junior Steve Kruen, who was clocked a 18:01 to take 14th place at Winona.

“Steve Kreun has taken the leadership role of the No. 1 runner and has accepted that role,” Haney said. “He has led the Tigers all season long and we are hoping for All-Conference honors from him.”

As a team Albert Lea finished seventh out of eight teams with 160 points. Mayo won the meet with 55 points and Winona was second with 58.

Following Kreun was eighth-grader Blair Bonnerup, with a time of 18:53, to finish in 31st position for Albert Lea. Joe Daniels was the next runner to cross the line with a time of 19:04. After Daniels, Griffin Wangen was the next Tiger to reach the finish line in a time of 19:17. Brian Reindl delivered a time of 19:21 to give Albert Lea its top five runners. Rounding out the Albert Lea runners were Eli Malimanek, who crossed the finish line in 19:46 and Luc Malimanek, who finished in 20:06.

“The boys are gaining in experience and will soon be starting the big push for the conference meet and section meet,” Haney said.

The junior high teams had a successful meet in Owatonna.

The Tiger girls had four runners place in the top 10 of the eighth-grade race with Emma Behling taking home third place. Morgan Haney was seventh while Natalie Peek placed ninth. Venus Park took 10th and Sadie Burnett was 12th. Aeron Mangskau was 13th and Lamanda Johnson 18th.

In the seventh-grade race Riley Schulz was fifth, Chloe Kleinschrodt sixth, and Breanna Himmerich eighth.

For the boys, Blair Bonnerup was 11th, Issac Ware 24th in the eighth-grade race and Connor Larson took 11th for the seventh-grade boys.