Both the girls' and boys' track squads for Austin High School finished in third place at the season-opening meet for the Packers Tuesday at the Fairmont Quadrangular.

The Packer girls were led by Megan Seibel, who brought home the team's only first-place finish with a leap of 16-feet in the long jump. Seibel, one of four returning senior letterwinners for Austin High, outdistanced the second-place finisher by more than one foot, and also placed second in the triple jump with an effort of 32-9. The winning effort from a Fairmont competitor was only one-half of an inch ahead of Seibel.

A pair of Packer relays earned runner-up finishes, as did senior thrower Renee Ludwig. The 4×100- and 4×400-meter relay teams each earned four points for second, as did Ludwig in the discus with her throw of 103-10.

Austin's other two relay teams -- the 4×800 and 4×200 -- earned third-place finishes, as did freshman Natalie Bowers in the 3,200-meter run. Fellow freshman Katie Munk garnered two points for fourth in the 1,600 run, while sophomore Lisa Bue was fourth in the high jump and the 800-meter run.

Senior Theresa Hirsch tossed the shot put 32-5 3/4 for fourth, and junior Lia Middlebrook picked up a point for fifth in the long jump.

Team standings -- 1. Fairmont 130.5, 2. Mankato East 89, 3. Austin 38.5, 4. Lake Crystal/Wellcome Memorial 14.

Packers place aplenty

The Packer boys' squad opened the season with a third-place finish at the Fairmont Quadrangular, scoring points in 15 of 18 events.

"This was a great first outdoor meet for the athletes," said coach Tony Einertson.

Austin did not rack up any individual victories, but instead shined with consistency throughout the meet. Todd Krupicka tossed the discus 130-5 for a second-place finish, while Evan Sorenson was third in the pole vault. He and Bryan Larson, who on Tuesday took second in the 200-meter dash, were section qualifiers last year. Larson also earned four points for his runner-up finish in the 400, and the Packer 4×200-meter relay -- James Dammen, Josh Hall, Ray Bissen and Larson -- was second as well.

The remaining three relay teams took third place in the quadrangular, while Sorenson was two inches shy of the top height in the high jump. He finished third for leaping 5-8, and also earned fourth in the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300-hurdles.

The 4×100 relay team consisted of Mike Gravelle, Josh and Derek Hall, and Bissen, while the 4×400 teamed Forman, Gravelle, David Larson and Tony Bissen. The 4×800 teamed Forman, Justin Poirier, Mike Hanson and Brandon Downs.

Marc Forman was fourth in the 800, Carl Bauer earned bronze in the 1,600, and Poirier was fourth in the 3,200. Riley Brolsma rounded out Austin's top-five finishes with an effort of 41-4 1/2 in the shot put.

The Austin teams are scheduled to run at the Owatonna Co-Ed Relays Friday at 3:15 p.m.

Team standings -- 1. Mankato East 124, 2. Fairmont 75, 3. Austin 45, 4. LCWM 28.

Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com.