Card girls' cross country: Piepenburg third at state

• Piepenburg

Alexandria's Jamie Piepenburg was third overall in the State Class AA cross country meet Saturday.

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Jamie Piepenburg and Chelsey Richardson represented Alexandria as the two individuals at the state cross country meet on Saturday as both put forth strong showings amongst the best in their class.

Piepenburg finished third for the second straight year. She finished with a time of 14:45.6. That was less than five seconds off of first-place finisher Maria Hauger of Shakopee. Hauger finished in a time of 14:40.8, while Emma Bates of Elk River finished second in a time of 14:41.7.

“It is a tribute to her preparation and mental toughness to bounce back from her section race,” head coach Mark Nelsen said of Piepenburg. “Jamie was closing on the leaders over the final mile but just ran out of course.”

Richardson was racing in her first state meet as a senior. She finished 40th overall with a time of 15:43.9.

“Chelsey has continued to improve all season and raced extremely well in her first state meet performance,” Nelsen said. “The coaches were extremely proud of her. She has been a positive leader and role model for our girls’ team.”

Both Piepenburg and Richardson were a big part of the girls’ cross country team that had another good season that was capped off with a third-place finish at sections.

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY

STATE MEET RESULTS

ALEXANDRIA INDIVIDUAL RESULTS – 3. Jamie Piepenburg – 14:45.6; 40. Chelsey Richardson – 15:43.9

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