The Packer cross country team will travel to the Brooktree Golf Course in Owatonna to compete in the Section 1AAA cross country finals today with hopes of better weather than what the team had to brave last year at this time.

The 2001 meet was postponed for one day last year due to unfavorable weather and snow conditions, however, the runners did battle 25 mph wind gusts during the rescheduled meet the next day.

No Austin runners advanced to the state finals last year. Katie Munk finished 14th overall in a time of 15:47. Natalie Bowers finished 62nd with a course time of 17:59. Carl Bauer ran the meet in 17:54 and took 40th overall. Jordon VanProosdy ran the course in 19:20.

Austin will bring with them the confidence that comes with running on familiar ground. Even though there will be 16 teams competing in the event, this will be the third time this year the team has run the course. Some of the runners have seen the course 15 times over their careers.

Austin coach Tony Einertson feels that the boys and girls team might place around 10th overall in the meet and that Carl Bauer has a chance to finish anywhere from sixth to 11th place.

If Bauer runs well enough to be one of the top runners, he would qualify for state finals. Einertson also stated that the team is not nursing any injuries at this time.

Katie Munk, who has had a nagging calf injury should be at 100 percent for the meet.

The girl's team will consist of Munk, Natalie Bowers, Megan Wilson, Molly Thatcher, Michelle Dammen, and Ashley Bumgardner. Running for the boys will be Bauer, Ike and Jordon VanProosdy, Nate Moser, Kevin Groh, and either Chase Kusterer or Daron Snater.