Packer girls win second straight Big Nine cross country title

Published 6:50 am Wednesday, October 15, 2014

The Austin girls cross country team won the Big Nine cross country meet for the second straight season in Owatonna Tuesday. From left: Tasia Martinson, Justice Tabor, Morgan Hose, Abby Lewis, Madison Overby, Paiton Schwab and Nicole Justice. -- Photo Provided by PJ Schwab

The Austin girls cross country team won the Big Nine cross country meet for the second straight season in Owatonna Tuesday. From left: Tasia Martinson, Justice Tabor, Morgan Hose, Abby Lewis, Madison Overby, Paiton Schwab and Nicole Justice. — Photo Provided by PJ Schwab

The Austin girls cross country team not only won its second straight Big Nine cross country title in Owatonna Tuesday, it did it with out using the score of any juniors or seniors.

Paiton Schwab runs down the stretch for the Packer girls in the BIg Nine meet in Owatonna Tuesday.-- Kaleb Roedel/Owatonna People's Press

Paiton Schwab runs down the stretch for the Packer girls in the BIg Nine meet in Owatonna Tuesday.– Kaleb Roedel/Owatonna People’s Press

Freshman Paiton Schwab took fourth, eighth grader Abby Lewis took sixth, eighth grader Morgan Hose took 30th, freshman Tasia Martinson took 30th and seventh grader Nicole Justice took 42nd for Austin.

The Packer girls ran the meet without junior Madison Overby, a four-time state qualifier, who is still recovering from an injury.

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“It was really a big day for the girls,” Austin head coach Tony Einertson said. “Morgan had a big race and Nicole Justice stepped up as well. When Madison was hurt, we knew [Justice] would be the one to make or break us.”

Austin did just enough to edge out the Wingers as Red Wing had a team score of 109 and the Packers had a 92. RW’s Jasymn Armstrong won the meet with a time of 14:13.5.

The Packer boys finished 12th out of 12 teams in the BIg Nine meet with a team score of 262 and Rochester Century won the meet with a 60. Holden Ourada took 36th for Austin.

Austin's Ben Walker runs down the stretch for at the Big Nine meet in Owatonna Tuesday. -- Kaleb Roedel/Owatonna People's Press

Austin’s Ben Walker runs down the stretch for at the Big Nine meet in Owatonna Tuesday. — Kaleb Roedel/Owatonna People’s Press

Last year the Packer girls won their first conference title in school history and they’re hoping to make it to state as a team for the first time in school history this season.

Next up for the Packers is the Section 1A meet in Owatonna Oct. 23.

Einertson isn’t certain if Overby will be healthy enough to run the Section 1A meet.

“Hopefully we’ll have Madison back, but the girls showed today that they’re ready to go without her,” Einertson said.

RESULTS

Austin girls: Pation Schwab (fourth, 15:03); Abby Lewis (sixth, 15:11); Morgan Hose (10th, 15:35.2); Tasia Martinson (30th, 16:22.8); Nicole Justice (42nd, 16:35.3); Justice Tabor (61st, 17:05)

Austin boys: Holden Ourada (36th, 17:40.7); Ben Walker (43rd, 17:52.5); Matt Retterath (50th, 18:01.9); Sawyer Myers (64th, 18:31.8); Mitchell Mayer (69th, 18:39); Brockdon Lawhead (72nd, 18:47.8)