FARIBAULT &045; It’s a learning and improving season for the Albert Lea High School cross country teams and, by that standard, the Tigers were successful in Friday’s Faribault Invitational.

Both squads finished 16th but, according to coach Jim Haney, made plenty of strides in the right direction.

&uot;The learning curve went way up as all my runners understood how to run a cross country race,&uot; said Haney. &uot;The times reflected a 1/2-minute to 1-minute improvement from Austin.&uot;

Times and places for the girls: Ellen Vandersyde, 82nd, 18:22; Anna Keesling, 89th, 18:56; Vanessa Storlie, 91st, 19:19; Rachel Antinozzi, 97th, 19:56; Frances O’Donnell, 100th, 20:51; Kyra Danneker, 131st, 21:59.

&uot;I was especially pleased with how the girls battled the heat and fellow runners,&uot; said Haney.

&uot;They did not back down from the challenges that were set before them. I was very happy with the improvement in times.&uot;

Boys’ times and places: Sean Harms, 83rd, 19:07; Josh Anderson, 90th, 19:23; John Coffield, 93rd, 19:42; Andrew Irvine, 103rd, 20:36; Casey Ciffra, 104th, 20:37.

&uot;It was the boys’ first official meet in about two weeks, and everybody showed improvement from the Austin meet,&uot; said Haney.

The Tigers are in action Thursday at the Rochester Mayo Invitational.