Melissa Roche was a little upset after last week’s Owatonna Invitational.

Wednesday, October 13, 1999

Melissa Roche was a little upset after last week’s Owatonna Invitational.

Roche, an Albert Lea High School senior and a longtime cross country standout, was defeated by a runner she felt she should have beaten.

Coach Dick Montgomery told her not to worry.

&uot;She was pretty depressed, but I told her she’d never lose to that girl again,&uot; said Montgomery. &uot;Because we’re going to start tapering.&uot;

With the tapering begun, Roche avenged the loss in Tuesday’s Albert Lea Invitational, winning the 4-kilometer race at Albert Lea Golf Club in 15:55.

Winona won the meet with 33 points, followed by Lake City at 68. The Tigers and Faribault both had 69 points, but third-place went to the Falcons via tiebreaker. Austin was fifth with 140.

Following Roche for the Tigers were Angie Schuhmacher, 11th, 17:07; Karissa Ladlie, 14th, 17:17; Jane Skrlin, 18th, 17:58; Anne Larson, 25th, 18:16; Erin Budd, 26th, 18:17; and Darcy Plantage, 30th, 19:55.

According to Montgomery, the Tigers made some progress despite running the meet without one of their varsity regulars.

&uot;We lost to Faribault last week, and we came back and tied them with one of our girls missing,&uot; said Montgomery. &uot;Even without our full team there, the girls stepped up and did pretty well. Again, this meet was a building process toward conference and section. I think the girls competed hard and did well.&uot;

The Albert Lea junior varsity girls were third, behind Winona and Lake City. Michelle Murray led the locals, placing 16th in 20:10.

The Tigers travel to Owatonna’s Brooktree Golf Course next Tuesday for the Big Nine meet. The junior varsity girls are set to run at 4 p.m. and the varsity girls at 4:30.