By Rocky Hulne and Brandi Hagen, staff writers

NORTHFIELD — Albert Lea senior Chrissy Monson didn’t finish exactly where she would’ve liked at the Class 2A girls’ cross country meet in St. Olaf Saturday.

But she’s willing to look on the bright side.

On her fifth straight appearance at the state meet, Monson finished 126th out of 174 runners with a time of 15 minutes, 46.2 seconds.

“It’s not exactly the way I wanted to go out,” Monson said. “But I feel so blessed to have so many people in my life and I feel blessed to run here five times. I just hope that when I go out and run that God is glorified and if that is done, then it was a good day.”

Maria Hauger of Shakopee won the Class 2A meet with a time of 13:42.0.

Tigers’ head coach Jim Haney said the race finished Monson’s distinguished career in cross country at Albert Lea High School.

“She ran a gutsy race as she tightened up early in the race and was still able to finish running a 15:46,” Haney said. “She has been a role model from the moment she started running for me. I am sad that she is leaving the program, but very excited that she will be able to take her talents to the next level.”

In her previous four trips to state, Monson placed 54th in 2011 with a time of 15:21.5, 41st in 2010 with a time of 15:21.5, 12th in 2009 with a time of 15:13.6 and in her first trip to state in 2008 for cross country she placed 28th with a time of 15:07.5.

According to Haney, Monson’s cross country career includes four Big Nine Conference titles, five trips to the state tournament, one section title and numerous meet victories.

“She is an exceptional young lady, and I am lucky to have had the chance to work with her as she shared her incredible talent of running and being a leader,” he said.