Tigers take 1st and 2nd at Mason City

Published 4:07 am Friday, September 27, 2013

Breanna Himmerich of Albert Lea runs at Mason City on Thursday. Himmerich took 12th place and finished with a time of 16 minutes, 56 seconds. — Lon Nelson/For the Albert Lea Tribune

The Albert Lea boys’ and girls’ cross country teams crossed the state border to take on competition from Iowa Tuesday at North Iowa Area Community College in a meet hosted by Mason City.

The Tigers weren’t phased by the out-of-state opponents as the boys took first out of seven teams and the girls finished second out of seven teams.

“We’ve never run in Mason City or against Mason City, Waterloo East, Fort Dodge, Clear Lake or Cedar Falls,” Albert Lea head coach Jim Haney said. “I thought my teams handled the new situation and course very well.”

The boys’ team ran to victory with three top-five finishes. Jackson Goodell led the Tigers in second place in 16 minutes, 40 seconds. Caleb Troe followed 46 seconds later in fourth place, and Blair Bonnerup took fifth.

Anna Englin and Haley Harms led the Albert Lea girls’ team. Englin took second in 15 minutes, 57 seconds.