Two Albert Lea runners are moving on to state after the Section 1AA meet Thursday at Brooktree Golf Course in Owatonna.

Ethan Marquardt and Chrissy Monson met their goals of reaching the state meet by placing in the top 10 at the meet.

It will Monson’s first trip to state as continued her fantastic season as a full-time varsity runner with a second place finish. Monson had a time of 14 minutes, 46 seconds and was just six seconds behind the section champion Claire Guidinger of Winona in the 4-kilometer race. It was Monson’s best time of the season and drew high praise from Tigers head coach Jim Haney.

“I am so proud of her efforts,” Haney said. “I have to remember that she is only in eighth-grade as she runs with the determination of someone that is a upperclassman.”

Last season Monson finished 21st at the meet.

The girls took 14th as a team with a team time of 1:28:40.9 and 383 points. Lakeville North won the meet with a team point total of 50 and Winona advanced as a team to the state meet as well with a second place finish and a team point total of 92 points.

Alyssa Sager had a time of 17:33 and Anna Enstad had a time of 18:42 for the Tigers. Abby Randall finished the race with a time of 18:48, Tara Helgeson finished in 18:49, Shelby Lageson had a time of 19:02 and Liz Burnett finished in 19:23 for Albert Lea.

“The section cross country meet was by far as a team the best we ran by individual times,” Haney said. “The kids really did improve a great deal during the season. We are always looking for the positive in running and we continue to improve but we are not satisfied and this will be our goal for next season to take the next step in getting better as runners.”

Marquardt will make a return trip to state with his fourth place finish. Marquardt turned in a time of 16:16 and finished behind the meet champion Jacob Bastyr, of Owatonna, who posted a time of 15:53, Jon-Michael Brandt, of Winona, who had a time of 16:11, and Scott Dick, of Dover-Eyota-St. Charles, who had a time of 16:15.

Marquardt, a senior, was part of a group of eight runners that were separated by a total of six seconds from third place to 10th place.

“The great thing about his race was the fact that he was packed with a group of eight runners and beat all of them except one,” Haney said. “He proved that he wanted to the goal of going to state more than some of the other competitors.”

The boys finished 14th overall with a team time of 1:29:07 for 305 points. Owatonna and Lakeville South advanced to the state meet as a team. The Huskies won the meet with 62 points and a team time of 1:22:25.

Both Marquardt and Monson have thoughts of the next level and becoming all-state runners when the state meet begins Nov. 1 at Northfield.

Joe Daniels had a time of 17:37, Steve Kruen 17:40, Torey Christensen 18:38, Brian Reindl 18:55, Evan Templeman 19:37, and Tyler Brackey 19:43 for the Tigers.

Their success has been a boast to the cross country program and Haney has appreciated what their effort has produced.

“Ethan and Chrissy’s success, as well as the growth of the program, has sparked an interest in running,” Haney said. “The team could not have done what it did without the great senior leadership during the past seasons.”

Haney credited seniors: Marquardt, Max King, Woody Dahl, Torey Christensen, Grant Verhey, Liz Burnett, Tara Helgeson, Abby Randall, Amy Gackstetter, Katie Nelson, and Anna Enstad, for their leadership throughout the season.