By Fred Kroner
With its top seven runners crossing the finish line within 43 seconds of one another on Saturday (Oct. 9) in an IESA Class 3A girls’ cross-country sectional at Lake of the Woods, the Mahomet-Seymour squad qualified for state.
“It is evident that we were in one of the toughest sectionals in the state for the girls’ race,” M-S coach Lisa Martin said. “However, our athletes did not back down from the competition, proving once again that the power of the pack is a solid strategy for our team.”
The top three team finishers in a 16-school meet secured their advancement.
M-S slipped in with the No. 3 qualifying spot.
The team sectional champion was Normal Kingsley (66 points) followed by Normal Parkside (75 points) and M-S (92 points).
Eighth-grader Madalyn Marx was the M-S leader, entering the chute in eighth place. Her 2-mile time was a season-best 12 minutes and 46 seconds.
Seventh-grader Taylor Mills was the next Bulldog runner, finishing 15th in 12:55.93.
“Madalyn Marx and Taylor Mills went out strong, setting the pace for their teammates,” Martin said. “They have that special connection that is needed to be teammates that are both competitive and supportive of each other.”
The remainder of the Bulldog lineup also finished among the top 30 runners in a field with 98 competitors.
Seventh-grader Anniston Huff was 16th (13:08.01), eighth-grader Hadley Groteluechen was 26th (13:21), sixth-grader Kennedy Ashby was 27th (13:22), seventh-grader Jaci Kellenberger was 29th (13:26) and sixth-grader Abi King was 30th (13:29).
“This group of athletes is very special to us in that it comprises all grade levels,” Martin said. “It has been a wonderful season watching our young runners learn from the example of our veterans.
“The legacy of all of our eighth-graders, including Grotelueschen, Marx, (Isabel) Lietz and (Ella) Walk will be one that should provide standout performances for the many athletes that will join us again next fall.”
Lietz and Walk are two of the three alternants on the M-S postseason roster – along with seventh-grader Hannah Martin – meaning they could be inserted in the lineup at state.
“On the sidelines we had some of the state’s best alternates,” Lisa Martin said. “Being an alternate can be one of the toughest positions on a team. Thankful for them.”
The IESA state meet will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday (Oct. 16) at Normal Parkside.
