Austin girls cross country team clinches first ever trip to state meet
Published 10:57 pm Thursday, October 23, 2014
Austin’s Madison Overby leads a pack of runners at the Sectiono 1AA championships in Owatonna Thursday. The Packers took second in the meet to advance for the first time in school history. — Kaleb Roedel/Owatonna People’s Press
The Austin girls cross country team had a goal in mind to start this season and they made that goal a reality when they took second place in the Section 1AA championships in Owatonna Thursday.
The Packers, who finished with a team score of 91 took second as they edged out Lakeville North, which had a score of 97, to clinch a spot in next week’s Class ‘AA’ state meet. Lakeville South won the meet with a 70.
Austin’s Morgan Hose runs down the stretch at the Section 1AA state cross country meet in Owatonna Thursday. — Kaleb Roedel/Owatonna People’s Press
It is the first time in AHS history that a girls cross country team has advanced to state.
“We knew it was going to be close and we didn’t know which way it was going to go. We told the girls that everyone in front of you is a point and we’ll need every point we can get,” Austin head coach Tony Einertson said. “The preparation in the summer is what the girls did to get here. It didn’t happen by accident. We were lucky enough and good enough to have a good day today and get to state.”
This will be Austin junior Madison Overby’s fifth time to state and she’s elated to be bringing her team with her this time. Ovebry was out with an injury for the past few weeks and she came back Thursday to finish in ninth place overall.
“I was really nervous coming in because of the time off. It was kind of painful, but I worked through it and did what I could,” Overby said. “Our team is so close and it’s going to be really nice to have six of my best friends with me [at state].”
Austin eighth grader Abby Lewis took seventh and freshman Paiton Schwab took 10th.
Austin’s Morgan Hose took 22nd, Tasia Martinson took 43rd and Nicole Justice took 56th.
The Austin boys team finished 14th out of 16 teams with a score of 312. Rochester Century won the meet with a score of 76 and Red Wing was second with a 121.
The Austin boys finished 13th out of 14 teams in the Section 1AA meet. Lakeville South won the meet with a score of 35 and Lakeville North was second with a 36.
RESULTS
Austin girls: Abby Lewis (seventh, 14:58.8); Madison Overby (ninth, 14:59.1); Paiton Schwab (10th, 15:02.5); Morgan Hose (22nd, 15:46.2); Tasia Martinson (43rd, 16:26.3); Nicole Justice (56th, 16:44);
Austin boys: Holden Ourada (36th, 17:19.2); Matthew Retterath (50th, 17:34.8); Ben Walker (59th, 17:42); Mitchell Mayer (83rd, 18:17.2); Sawyer Myers (84th, 18:21.8); Brockdon Lawhead (85th, 18:22)