NEW RICHLAND &045; The host team kept the championship at home, but Albert Lea girls’ track and field coach Margo Wayne was far from disappointed with her squad in Tuesday’s Panther Invitational at New Richland.

The Tigers finished second to NRHEG, which is expected to be among the top Class A teams in the state this spring.

&uot;The girls competed real well,&uot; said Wayne. &uot;Times are already coming down. It was a fun, well run meet, and we’re excited about some of our times and other things that are happening at this point of the season.&uot;

NRHEG won with 164 points, followed by Albert Lea with 129.5, St. Clair 81, Maple River 70, Alden-Conger 47, Glenville-Emmons 36, Medford 17 and Faribault Academy for the Deaf 4.5.

Emily Bartusek had two of the Tigers’ four firsts, winning the 100 and 200-meter dashes.

Amy Ravenhorst, Sasha Flores, Steph Overgaard and Jasey Porter combined for first in the 4×200 relay while Ravenhorst, Flores, Cara Thorn and Jasey Porter won the 4×400.

The Tigers were second in the 4×100 relay with Becky Birkhofer, Kelly Schreiber, Shawna Griffith and Danika Porter.

Katie Stenseth was second in the 800 and 1600. Also taking second were Annie Berger in the long jump and Ravenhorst in the high jump.

Other Albert Lea places: Overgaard, third, 100 hurdles, third, long jump, and sixth, 300 hurdles; Schreiber, fourth, 100 hurdles; Danika Porter, sixth, 100; Stacy Busch, fourth, shot put; Emily Appel, fifth, shot put; Jasey Porter, third, 400; Flores, fourth, 400; Ravenhorst, fifth, 200; Leah Gilbertson, sixth, 3200.

The Tigers travel to Mankato next Tuesday to face Mankato West and Winona in a Big Nine triangular.