Carl Bauer saw what it takes to be the best cross country runner in the state in Austin's last regular-season meet, and he'll get to see it again in one week.

Bauer ran alongside Winona's Garrett Heath -- rated No. 1 in the state -- for the first two miles of Tuesday's Austin Invitational at Ramsey Golf Club, but Heath showed Bauer and the rest of the field how he gets it done. Heath ran the final mile in 4 minutes 40 seconds en route to a first-place finish in 15:52.

Bauer, in 16:29, was second place, leading the Packers to a third-place team finish with the Big Nine Conference meet on the horizon for next Tuesday at Owatonna.

"Carl was nice and relaxed and had one of his best races of the year," said AHS coach Tony Einertson. "When Garrett took off, that was expected. Carl stayed with him for a little while longer, but not much."

Brandon Downs came in seventh for Austin in 17:37, and Kevin Groh was 12th in 17:52. Jordan VanProosdy was 27th in 18:22, and Nate Moser rounded out the team scoring in 27th in 19:14.

Team standings -- 1. Winona 29, 2. Faribault 53, 3. Austin 69, 4. Albert Lea 104, 5. Lake City 109.

AUSTIN -- 2. Carl Bauer 16:29, 7. Brandon Downs 17:37, 12. Kevin Groh 17:52, 21. Jordan VanProosdy 18:22, 27. Nate Moser 19:14, 32. Chase Kusterer 19:53.

Munk paces girls

Katie Munk paced the girls' team to a fourth-place finish, clocking in at 16:13.

"It wasn't her best time of the year, but she's certainly starting to come down and become a little more consistent," Einertson said.

Munk and Natalie Bowers went out with a quick start, and Munk broke away as the race went on. Bowers placed 12th in 16:43, and Megan Wilson gave chase in 15th in 17:20. Molly Thatcher was 20th in 17:36 and Michelle Dammen was 26th in 18:13.

Both Packer teams run Oct. 15 at the Big Nine meet at the Owatonna Country Club.

Team standings -- 1. Lake City 34, 2. Winona 36, 3. Faribault 71, 4. Austin 77, 5. Albert Lea 137.

AUSTIN -- 4. Katie Munk 16:13, 12. Natalie Bowers 16:43, 15. Megan Wilson 17:20, 20. Molly Thatcher 17:36, 26. Michelle Dammen 18:13, 30. Ashley Bumgardner 19:10.