Austin sophomore Madison Overby clinched her fourth straight trip to the Minnesota State Class AA State Cross Country Meet and Austin senior Andrew Baker earned his first trip to state at the Section 1AA meet in Owatonna Thursday.

Baker, who is the first Austin boy to qualify for state in 11 years, ran a career best time of 16:19.1 seconds, finishing in sixth place. Overby ran her best time in two months at 15:01.7 as she took eighth place.

“Andrew finished strong and I’m very excited for him,” Austin head coach Tony Einertson said. “He’s worked his tail off for the last three years and this is the strongest I’ve ever seen him run. Madison looked great and she has some good experience heading to state.”

Austin eighth-grader Paiton Schwab ran a career best time of 15:17.7, but she missed out on the state meet by two-tenths of a second as she finished 15th.

The Austin girls made their mark as a team, taking third in the 16-team meet. The Packers had a score of 114 points and Lakeville North advanced to state with an 85. Lakeville South won the meet with a 44.

Austin’s Morgan Hose, Abby Lewis and Tasia Martionson all ran career best times for the Packers.

“Our girls ran amazing and they gave us everything they had,” Einertson said. “I’m extremely proud them for taking third and it’s a great accomplishment.”

The Austin boys finished 11th out of 16 teams. Red Wing won the meet and Lakeville North took second.

Austin boys results: Andrew Baker (sixth, 16:19.1); Quin Brunner (49th, 17:31.9); Clyde Carver (72nd, 17:58.1); Mitch Myers (78th, 18:08.8); Joseph Kroymann (87th, 18:23.1)

Austin girls results: Madison Overby (eighth, 15:01.7); Paiton Schwab (15th, 15:17.7); Morgan Hose (20th, 15:26.1); Abby Lewis (22nd, 15:29.3); Tasia Martinson (49th, 16:13.8); Justice Tabor (76th, 17:02.1); Cham Ochudo (87th, 17:43.8)