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Austin senior Marissa Shute joined elite company when she earned her fourth straight trip to the Minnesota State Cross Country Meet last week, and she’s not done yet.

Shute has her sights set on her best finish yet as she prepares to run in the Class AA girls meet, which will take place at the Les Bolstad Golf Course at the University of Minnesota at 10 a.m. Saturday.

“I’m kind of shooting for the top 25, which would be all state,” Shute said. “I’m going to give it my all. It’s my last year, so I have nothing to lose. It’s really familiar to me at state. I’ll be going out of the box with a lot of amazing girls from my section, who I know will be there to push me.”

Shute took 32nd state last season, she placed 51st as a sophomore and she took 65th as a freshman.

By making it to state every year of high school, Shute joins past AHS runners Abby Lewis and Madison Overby, who also accomplished that feat.

“It’s really cool to go four years in a row,” Shute said. “A lot of girls before me have also done it and it’s really cool to follow in their footsteps and do what they’ve done, while also creating my own path. I’ve worked hard over all six of my years in this program and it’s paid off.”

The Packer cross country program has been highly successful over the years and Shute said it’s a credit to the support system the team offers.

“It’s the team aspect of everything that helps us,” Shute said. “The teammates are so nice and if you’re not having a good day, your teammates are there to pick you right up and they’re always there for you.”

While this will be her last time running with the Packer cross country team, Shute said that hasn’t really sunk in yet.

“It definitely does not feel like it is my last one, but I feel like when I get there I’ll feel it. I’ll just go out there and do my best,” she said.