MANKATO - Talia Otto and Peter Finken led the way for the Minnesota Valley Lutheran cross country team as it opened its season at a triangular meet hosted by Mankato East on Tuesday.
Otto placed fourth in a time of 17:32 on the girls' side to help the Chargers place second with a score of 55. Finken was fourth on the boys' side with a time of 18:44 as MVL finished third with 101 points.
The MVL girls' scoring five was rounded out by Alexa Dierson (seventh, 18:02), Cheyenne Bjorkland (10th, 18:31), Brianna Holtmeier (13th, 18:43) and Maria Muske (21st, 19:52).
Following behind Finken for the Charger boys were Caleb Grefe (20th, 20:30), Zack Scharlemann (23rd, 20:39), Jacob Grefe (25th, 21:03) and Sam Bernau (28th, 21:47).
Belle Plaine took the girls' team title with 25 points, with Mankato East placing third with 56 points. On the boys' side, Mankato East placed first with 25 points and Belle Plaine was second with 46 points.
MVL will next compete at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 6 at the Tri-City United Invitational.