ALDEN – Last spring, Megan Jensen surprised a lot of people with her strong showing the Section 2A Track and Field Meet.

Tuesday, December 18, 2001

ALDEN – Last spring, Megan Jensen surprised a lot of people with her strong showing the Section 2A Track and Field Meet.

That won’t be the case next year. The Alden-Conger freshman has established herself among the top distance runners in the nation in her age group.

Jensen finished sixth in the 2001 National Junior Olympic Cross Country Meet at Lincoln, Neb. Dec. 8. The race had 197 runners from throughout the United States, and Jensen was the only Minnesotan and one of only two Region VIII competitors to finish among the top 40. Her time was 15:10.8 for 4,000 meters.

In November, Jensen won the regional race in 15:12.4, more than 12 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

Jensen achieved it without the benefit of a high school cross country season. She played volleyball instead, though Alden-Conger coach Joe Guanella said he’s been assured Jensen will compete in cross country next fall.

This year, Guanella worked with Jensen during her spare time to improve her conditioning, pace work and mental preparation. But nothing could prepare her for the crowd of runners and fans she saw at Lincoln.

&uot;Megan did a great job in a race far beyond anything she has experienced before,&uot; said Guanella, who under state high school league rules wasn’t allowed to work with Jensen after the cross country season and attended nationals as a spectator only. &uot;I believe she actually could have finished a place or two higher but she got boxed in at the start and was unable to pick out the girl she wanted to run with. At the gun she did not get a good start and, consequently, ended up in about 20th position going into the first funnel. She did a great job of fighting her way back but was unable to make up any more ground.&uot;

Last spring, Jensen made a name for herself in the area by taking third in the 1,600 meters in the section meet, narrowly missing a trip to state as an eighth-grader.

Guanella wasn’t surprised by that or Jensen’s most recent performance.

&uot;I guess, from my perspective, I’ve always known she can compete at this level,&uot; said Guanella. &uot;Now, I think she knows, and other people know, she is that good.&uot;