Albert Lea’s Goodell is conference champ

Published 1:07 am Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Jackson Goodell of Albert Lea runs Tuesday at the Big Nine Conference Meet at Brooktree Golf Course in Owatonna. Goodell was the conference champion with a time of 16:16. — Lon Nelson/For the Albert Lea Tribune

Jackson Goodell of Albert Lea runs Tuesday at the Big Nine Conference Meet at Brooktree Golf Course in Owatonna. Goodell was the conference champion with a time of 16:16. — Lon Nelson/For the Albert Lea Tribune

The Albert Lea cross country team produced a Big Nine Conference champion, two All-Conference runners and four honorable mention All-Conference runners Tuesday at the Big Nine Conference Meet at Brooktree Golf Course in Owatonna.

The boys’ team took ninth place with a score of 205, and the girls’ team took eighth place with a score of 145 in the 12-team field.

Jackson Goodell won the boys’ race with a time of 16:17.1. He beat Seth Massot of Rochester Century by 5.7 seconds. Goodell was All-Conference, and Jay Skaar took 34th place to earn honorable mention All-Conference.

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“He (Goodell) put all his hard work and effort of track, summer running and cross country season together to become the first Big Nine champion boys runner in many years,” said Albert Lea coach Jim Haney. “He ran a smart race and stayed with the lead pack for the last two miles and then pushed the pace in the last mile to overtake his competitors.”

Haley Harms led the girls’ team and earned All-Conference honors with a time of 15:54.6 for 16th place.

“She has run with such drive and determination in the last few weeks that she would not be denied her goal of being an All-Conference runner,” Haney said. “She attacked the course, and her experience in big meets showed as she made big moves down the stretch to lead the team.”

Hanna Kingstrom took 21st place, Autumn Muilenburg finished 28th and Emily Ortiz was 31st to earn the trio honorable mention All-Conference honors.

“We are proud of the girls, and they still have many goals they want to accomplish,” Haney said. “I look forward to continued improvement as we move into the section meet.”

Statistics are in the Scoreboard: Oct. 14 post.