Girls X-Country: Peterson on to State

Seventh-grader Lauren Peterson finished 6th overall and earned a trip the state meet

Lauren Peterson put an exclamation point on an outstanding first season with a sixth place finish in a 111-runner field at the Section 1AA Championships held Thursday at Brooktree Golf Course in Owatonna to earn a trip to next weekend's Class AA state meet.

The speedy seventh-grader toured the 4000-meter course in a season-best 14:52 to eclipse the FHS school record on the Brooktree course set by Tiger boys' cross country coach Lisa (Dingman) Lippold in 1998.

"Lauren went out strong early in the race and stayed with the top 10 pack throughout," coach Heidi Revels said.

Peterson wasn't the only Tiger to have a big day at the section meet. Senior Maricia Pacheco, a state meet qualifier last fall, missed a return trip to state by two places, lopping a half minute off last year's section time with a 15:23 clocking.

Lakeville South out-pointed cross town rival Lakeville North 85-44 to win the team title with both schools moving on to the state meet team competition.

Austin ranked third at 114, followed by Red Wing 145, Farmington 153,  Albert Lea 161, Northfield 166, Rochester Century 199, Owatonna 211, Rochester Mayo 212, Faribault 293,  Winona 316, Rochester John Marshall 331, Zumbrota-Mazeppa/Kenyon-Wanamingo 398, Hastings 412 and Kasson-Mantorville 516.

The Tigers' fifth-place ranking was one place higher than their standing at the 2012 section finals.

Maricia Pacheco (foreground) knocked 30 seconds off her 2102 section time

In addition to Peterson and Pacheco, five other Tigers, two on the varsity team and three more on the junior varsity squad, turned in personal record times in their final meet of the season.

"What an amazing day for Farmington girls' cross country," Revels said. "Our goal is always to reach our peak this time of year and the girls definitely stepped up and gave it all they had.

"It's very exciting to bring someone to the state meet but it's also a joy to look back at all the team has done this season and to see the runners confident and meeting their individual goals."

The two additional personal bests came from Anna Palodichuk and Sami Hyytinen, the third and fourth Tiger finishers. Palodichuk checked in at 35th place in 15:57 and Hyytinen was 39th in 16:01.

Sofia Chadwick placed 56th in 16:29; Maricella Pacheco 73rd in 16:59 and Emily Schaffer 78th in 17:07.

The junior varsity team placed ninth among 13 teams with Mariana Montbriand leading the way with a 35th place finish, two spots in front of Sara Cummings. Abby Bollig finished 55th, Alexis Johnson 73rd, Hannah Morgan 78th and Kara Revis 88th.

Peterson will spend the next week training for the state meet scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2, at St. Olaf College in Northfield.