FARIBAULT – Coach Chris Chalmers readily admits the 2001 Albert Lea High School cross country teams aren’t looking to challenge for the Big Nine title.

Sunday, September 09, 2001

FARIBAULT – Coach Chris Chalmers readily admits the 2001 Albert Lea High School cross country teams aren’t looking to challenge for the Big Nine title.

They want to have fun and get better.

With that in mind, Friday’s Faribault Invitational was a success. Both squads finished last among 17 schools but, according to Chalmers, they showed some progress.

&uot;Our inexperience showed,&uot; said Chalmers. &uot;A lot of our runners were in their first race. But everyone took 30 seconds to four minutes off their time from the previous week. I feel good about the way we’re improving.&uot;

Placing for the boys: Adam Muilenburg, 97th, 18:58; Sean Harms, 98th, 19:24; Josh Anderson, 100th, 19:28; Ben Matheson, 105th, 20:03; Andrew Irvine, 116th, 21:20; Casey Ciffra, 117th, 21:44; Andrew Dyrdal, 119th, 22:32.

Mounds View won the boys’ meet with 54 points. The Tigers had 516.

Tiffany Truesdell led the ALHS girls, placing 84th in 17:09, followed by Ellen Vandersyde, 94th, 17:33; Sasha Flores, 106th, 18:23; Kaylee Hable, 107th, 18:23; and Erin Budd, 108th, 18:26.

The girls’ meet was won by Lakeville with 73 points. Albert Lea had 499.

The Tigers travel to Rochester’s Mayo Invitational Thursday at Eastwood Golf Course.