Austin’s Carl Bauer had a reason to smile after the 2002 Class AA State Cross Country meet Saturday at St. Olaf College in Northfield. Bauer, just a junior, will have a chance to qualify again next year.

Bauer was the first AHS boys’ runner to advance to state since Chris Harden accomplished the feat in 1985. On Saturday, Bauer placed 73rd overall in Class AA in 17 minutes 34.9 seconds. He finished 1:45 behind leader Garrett Heath of Winona.

&uot;He ran well, he had a good first mile-and-a-half,&uot; said AHS cross country coach Tony Einertson. &uot;Then he started to suffer from a cold he picked up about Thursday this week … and it kind of affected his breathing the last mile-and-a-half.&uot;

Einertson said the course was measured by some fellow coaches to be about 5,200 meters long -- outdistancing the standard 5,000. Times were noticeably slower throughout the field, but Bauer will have a chance to better his effort as a senior.

&uot;It’s a wonderful accomplishment for him, being the first one from Austin in 17 years,&uot; Einertson said, &uot;and he’s only a junior. So he’s got another shot at it.&uot;

Bauer placed sixth in the Section 1AA meet at Owatonna in a time of 16:32, his personal-record for the course. The junior also set a course record three meets into the season at the Hayfield Invitational, charting 16:21.