Monson wins the 3,200- and 1,600-meter runs to lead A.L.

The Albert Lea girls’ track and field team earned eighth place, while the boys took 10th Friday at the Big Nine Conference meet at Rochester Century.

Chrissy Monson earned the top Albert Lea finishes by winning the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. She shaved seven seconds from her time in the 1,600 and 14 seconds from her 3,200-meter time. Monson beat Emma Christiansen of Rochester John Marshall, the second-place finisher in the 3,200-meter run, by more than 20 seconds.

The Albert Lea girls’ team finished in the top five in five other events.

Larissa Hacker took third in the 300-meter hurdles, Anna Englin earned fourth in the 800-meter run and Gretchen Johnson was fourth in the 100-meter hurdles. The 4×400-meter relay team of Sydney Rehnelt, Rachel Rehnelt, Becca Dup and Bryn Woodside also took fourth place, and Elisa Staat earned fifth in the triple jump.

The Albert Lea boys’ team earned its top two finishes in relays.

The team of Eli Malimanek, Colton Mowers, Dylan Anderson and Tate Tufte earned fourth place in the 4×200-meter relay. In the 4×400-meter relay, Tufte, Malimanek, Preston Smith and Daniel Mondeel took sixth place.

In individual events, Lucas Malimanek led the Tigers with seventh place in the 800-meter run. Preston Smith took seventh in the 110-meter hurdles and eighth in the 300-meter hurdles.

Next, the Albert Lea boys’ and girls’ track and field teams will compete at the section meet May 30 through June 1 at Lakeville South. Times will be announced.

The state meet will be at Hamline University June 7 and 8.