Austin's diversly aged girls' track team utilized its strong leadership and its youthful talent for a runner-up finish at the Faribault Invitational Tuesday in Faribault.

Four personal-best efforts resulted in four top-two finishes for Austin, including senior Renee Ludwig's all-time best throw of 109-feet in winning the discus.

Emily Johnson's first time of competing in the 400-meter dash was a promising experience. Johnson beat her competition by three seconds in winning the event with a time of 66.87.

Lisa Bue's day included a personal-best effort in the high jump, going 4-10 for second place. Bue was also third in the 800 and ran on the fourth-placed 4×800 relay team.

Senior Kari Loger elevated her running to the next level, taking two relay firsts and an individual second. The 4×100 (Megan Seibel, Loger, Staci Tucker, Theresa Hirsch) and the 4×400 (Loger, Jenny Tucker, S.Tucker, Theresa Hirsch) both prevailed on the day.

"Austin's girls' track team had an outstanding night in Faribault under windy conditions," said coach Lisa Glynn. "I'm so proud of the effort put forth by this young team."

The Packers trailed only Winona in the final team standings, with Faribault close behind in third.

Seibel and Hirsch each had busy days on and off the track. Seibel was first in the long jump, second in the triple jump, and sixth in the 100. Hirsch ran the anchor on the first-placed 4×400 relay, took second in the 200, and was fourth in the shot put.

Team standings

1. Winona 136, 2. Austin 124, 3. Faribault 120, 4. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 82, 5. Northfield 76.

Event results

(Winner and Austin participants)

4×800 -- 1. Winona 10:37.41, 4. Austin (Molly Thatcher, Natalie Bowers, Katie Munk, Lisa Bue) 11:13.50; 100 hurdles -- 1. Nina Anderson (FAR) 17.92, 7. Beth Larson (AUS) 19.70, 8. Hayley Fisher (AUS) 19.72; 100 -- 1. Megan Sartor (FAR) 13.34, 2. Kari Loger (AUS) 13.73, 6. Megan Seibel (AUS) 14.66, 11. Lia Middlebrook (AUS) 15.17; 4×200 -- 1. Faribault 1:54.14, 2. Austin (Sarah Huffer, Megan Erickson, Jenny Tucker, Emily Johnson) 1:55.51; Triple Jump -- 1. Megan Vig (NOR) 33-6, 2. Seibel (AUS) 32-3 1/4; 1,600 -- 1. Lindsey Semmann (WEM) 5:53.47, 2. Munk (AUS) 5:59.32; Discus -- 1. Renee Ludwig (AUS) *109-0; 4×100 -- 1. Austin (Seibel, Loger, Staci Tucker, Hirsch) 53.92; Pole Vault -- 1. Abby Johnson (WIN) 9-0; 400 -- 1. Johnson (AUS) *66.87, 7. Heidi Craven (AUS) 73.63; High Jump -- 1. Semmann (WEM) 5-0, 2. Lisa Bue (AUS) *4-10; 300 hurdles -- 1. Katie Crouse (WIN) 49.30, 2. Huffer (AUS) *51.33, 11. Larson (AUS) 59.84, 13. Fisher (AUS) 60.54; Long Jump -- 1. Seibel (AUS) 15-8 3/4, 4. Middlebrook (AUS) 14-1 1/2; 800 -- 1. Allison Eddy (WIN) 2:36.80, 3. Bue (AUS) 2:40.52, 7. Natalie Bowers (AUS) 2:44.88; Shot Put -- 1. Betsy Tasca (WIN) 36-7 3/4, 4. Hirsch 31-9, 7. Renee Ludwig (AUS) 29-9 1/4; 200 -- 1. Sartor (FAR) 27.33, 2. Hirsch (AUS) 28.02, 8. Middlebrook (AUS) 29.84, 11. Craven (AUS) 34.21; 3,200 -- 1. Kim Chapman (WIN) 12:59.30; 4×400 -- 1. Austin (Loger, J.Tucker, S.Tucker, Hirsch) 4:23.34.

*denotes personal best