Brainerd runners win meet

ALBANY -- Justin Grunewald once again was the individual winner of a cross country meet.

This time, however, his win helped the Brainerd Warriors boys' team to a first-place finish at the Albany Invitational Tuesday.

Grunewald finished with a time of 17:03. Brady Rutman was fourth and Louie Bedard was sixth. The three top-ten finishes helped Brainerd win by 38 points over second-place Albany.

Warriors coach Dave Herath said that this was the best start he has seen in a lot of years as Brainerd has won three of five meets.

Pierz's Zach Solinger finished second after not running for three weeks due to an injury for the Pioneer boys'.

Kaley Jensen of the Pioneers girls' team and Jamie Talberg finished in the top ten to lead Pierz to third place.

The Warrior girls' finished fourth. Erin Holznagel led the team with a 16th-place finish. Her time was 17:14.

Boys' team scores --1-Brainerd 36, 2-Albany 74, 3-Sauk Center 97, 4-Big Lake 110, 5-Rocori 117, 6-Pierz 151, 7-Becker 217, 8-Royalton 230

Individual winner -- Justin Grunewald (BRD) 17:03

Brainerd results --4-Brady Rutman 17:45, 6-Louie Bedard 17::52, 12-Chad Anderson 18:16, 13-Cory Olson 18:18, 27-Brandon Town 19:04, 29-Evan Tougas 19:09

Pierz results --2-Zach Solinger 17:27, 10-Eli Solinger 18:12, 33-Steve Andres 19:34, 48-Ben Durheim 20:36, 58-Benny Andres 25:09

Girls' team scores --1-Sauk Center 42, 2-Big Lake 42, 3-Pierz 98, 4-Brainerd 118, 5-Rocori 140, 6-Becker 151, 7-Royalton 190

Individual winner --Gretta Batsh (BL) 15:15

Brainerd results --16-Erin Holznagel 17:14, 21-Audree Goodew 17:35, 26-Ali Parsons 17:53, 27-Ashley Schmolke 17:56, 28-Liz Borash 17:57

Pierz results --8-Kaley Jensen 16:55, 9-Jamie Talberg 16:55, 24-Kaitlyn Jensen 17:51, 25-Amber Welle 17:53, 32-Kristine Gruber 18:18, 39- Heather Boser 19:17

Next meet --Pierz at Becker-Big Lake Invitational 4:30 p.m. Monday; Brainerd at University of Minnesota Invitational 1 p.m. Saturday.