MSJHS girls’ cross country places fourth at Dunlap
By Fred Kroner
Mahomet-Seymour’s junior high girls’ varsity cross-country team took fourth in the 41-school Dunlap Invitational on Friday (Sept. 22) at Detweiller Park, in Peoria.
Meet champion Minooka had 117 points. M-S ended with a composite score of 215.
The first six Bulldog runners in the 2.1-mie race ended within 43.2 seconds of one another.
The team-leader was Paige Jansen (29th in 13 minutes, 49.1 seconds).
Trailing her were Cecily Smith (31st in 13:51.0), Ava Cvengros (36th in 13:56.3), Finley Smith (48th in 14:06.3), Ashley Martin (71st in 14:26.3) and Chandler Mills (14:32.3).
The other M-S competitor in the 292-runner race was Phoebe Graham (136th in 15:09.2).
“We went to the line with a strong group of runners that are continuing to get stronger with each meet,” M-S coach Lisa Martin said. “Our 1-4 pack found themselves needing to move up after the mile mark and that is what they did.
“I think they moved up 20 or so places to get to their finish spots.
“They have always gone out in control. I am excited to see what they will do when we challenge them to push the pace a little earlier, as we are approaching that time in the season.”
In the girls’ open race, eight of the top 25 finishers were from M-S, including the individual winner.
Kennedy Ashby was timed in 14:12.7 and was triumphant by 17.3 seconds.
Following Ashby were Roya Beere (fourth in 14:39.8), Emma Dewitt (fifth in 14:39.9), Rilynn Nelson (eighth in 14:54.3), Yuna Kim (ninth in 14:57.8), Brooke Patrick (16th in 15:11.8), Cicely Brokish (22nd in 15:20.6), Kennedy Wallace (23rd in 15:21.7), Katelyn Waisath (58th in 16:00.8) and Brooke Alderks (79th in 16:22.1).
There were 390 runners in the open race.
The top six Bulldog placers were separated by 59.1 seconds.
M-S won the team crown in the open race, scoring 27 points. Runner-up Minooka had 31 points.
“Kennedy Ashby went out in the lead and kept it that way for the entirety of the race,” Lisa Martin said. “Kennedy has been working hard to learn what race strategy works best for her.
“I think this race helped build her confidence in a way that she will be set up to peak at just the right time. It was pretty awesome to see the depth of our team. We had a lot of young runners in this mix. It will be exciting to see where they go in their distance-running career.
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday (Sept. 30) in the Monticello Invitational at Lodge Park.
