Tiger Cross Country Competes in Austin

(Pictured Gavin Hanke)

Team place for Albert Lea

boys 4/7

girls 7//7

Star runners boys-Gavin Hanke-2nd overall and Isaiah McGaffey-5th overall

Star girl runner-Jai Maligaya 11th place

Comments from Co Head Coach Jim Haney. This was a tuneup for the 2 biggest races of the season, the coaching staff feels good about where the team is before the big 9 and the section.  Times are coming down and we know that if we are to be a factor in the section meet we will need to continue to improve.  The young men and women are happy with how they ran but are not satisfied with where they stand as individuals and as a team.  We have 16 days to prepare and we will be running our best at the section.  We know that we have an opportunity to be very competitive at the section meet and now we need to make the last big push to reach the team and individual goals we have set at the beginning of the season.  We are ready to accept any challenge and we ask for a chance to be a factor at the section meet and we are ready for it.

Gavin Hanke and Isaiah McGaffey had outstanding races and the coaching staff is incredibly proud of these 2 young men as they have made great strides at the end of the season to be their best.  Gavin ran a personal best time of 16:28 and Isaiah ran a personal best 17:43.  They are very strong runners and it will be so much fun to watch their next 2 races to see what they can do.  The coaching staff has high expectation of both Gavin and Isaiah and they have always provided leadership and effort to meet the team goals

Girls-We had our 1st team score of the season and that was a goal we met.  We had many newcomers to cross country trying their 1st time at 5000 meters.  The girls gained valuable experience for the next races.  Leading the way was Jai Maligaya with an 11th place.  She is consistently leading the way for the girls and has become a very strong runner. The coaching staff has asked so much from Jai and she has come through leading the girls.  She is ready for Big 9 and the section races.

Next race is Big 9 on Tuesday 10/19 in Owatonna