Austin sends two to state cross country meet
Published 9:34 pm Thursday, October 25, 2012
Austin's Madison Overby, left runs stride for stride with Albert Lea's Crissy Monson at the Section 1A cross country meet in Owatonna Thursday. -- Kyle Stevens/Owatonna People's Press
OWATONNA — The Austin girls sent two runners to the state meet and the boys just missed sending one at the Section 1AA cross country meet in Owatonna Thursday.
Austin senior Haley Splinter clinched her third career trip to state by taking sixth with a time of 15:16.8 and Austin freshman Madison Overby was right behind her, taking seventh with a time of 15:18.1 to earn her third straight trip to state.
Splinter missed out on state last season after suffering a medical disorder.
“Haley really had a strong race,” Austin head coach Tony Einertson said. “She started out nice and easy and ran kept strong. It’s nice to get her back to where she was before last year.”
Austin's Mason Wollersheim runs down the stretch at the Section 1A cross country meet in Owatonnna Thursday. -- Kyle Stevens/Owatonna People's Press
Overby wasn’t in top condition for the race, but she still got the job done.
“It wasn’t Madison’s best race and she was feeling sick, but she’s moving on,” Einertson said. “Hopefully we can get her and Haley healthy next week and we can get some good weather.
Austin senior Mason Wollersheim was in position to get to state, but he fell short down the stretch. In the end, Wollersheim missed state by 1.5 seconds.
“It was a tough spot for Mason to be in,” Einertson said. “He was the first guy who didn’t qualify. But he ran a heck of a race and it was the best race of his career.”
The Packer boys took 10th as a team out of 16 teams and the Packer girls took eighth.
The Class ‘AA’ state cross country meet will be held in Northfield Nov. 3.
Austin boys results: Mason Wollersheim (14th, 16:43.9); Andrew Baker (19th, 17:02); Quin Brunner (68th, 17:55.6); Cole Prescott (79th, 18:14.8); Caleb Asay (85th, 18:17.8)
Austin girls results: Haley Splinter (sixth, 15:16.8); Madison Overby (seventh, 15:18.1); McKenzie Besel (62nd, 16:47.3); Justice Tabor (75th, 17:03.9); Paiton Schawb (83rd, 17:16.3); Tasia Martinson (91st, 17:32.8)
