By Fred Kroner
With all five scoring runners finishing among the top one-fourth of the runners in the IESA Class 3A girls’ cross-country sectional at Lake of the Woods on Saturday (Oct. 8), Mahomet-Seymour ran away with team honors in the 15-school race.
The sectional champion Bulldogs had a composite team score of 60 points. Runner-up Bloomington had 84 points and third-place Bloomington Evans ended with 110 points).
Setting the pace for M-S in the race with 104 competitors was eighth-grader Taylor Mills (second in 12:27.5).
The split between the Bulldogs’ top five runners was 59.3 seconds.
Mills was followed by eighth-grader Anniston Huff (eighth in 12:46.4), eighth-grader Ava Watkins (12th in 12:51.5), eighth-grader Jaci Kellenberger (13th in 12:53.4), sixth-grader Norelle Eilts (25th in 13:22.8), eighth-grader Zoey Wallace (28th in 13:29.4) and seventh-grader Kennedy Ashby (38th in 13:54.6).
The M-S state alternants are eighth-grader Emma Busch, seventh-grader Cecily Smith and eighth-grader Claire Waggoner.
M-S coach Lisa Martin had nothing but praise for her competitors.
“Our girls’ team showed up in a serious way today,” Martin said. “Taylor Mills ran confidently and strongly. She has grown in these areas all season and it is nice to see it all coming together at the perfect time.
“Anniston Huff ran a solid second spot for our team. Anniston started out well, more conservatively, and then made some huge advancements going into the second half of the race. She ran her own perfect race and picked off competitors one at a time, putting herself in the position as the eighth-place finisher and a season-best time on our course. She has been such a strong and consistent runner this season.”
There were plenty of compliments to share about the squad’s other competitors as well.
“Ava Watkins has consistently been in our No. 3 spot, but lately has had to push the pace more because teammate Jaci Kellenberger has been with her,” Martin continued. “This dynamic duo truly defines the word ‘team,’ as they have grown to know each other’s strengths.
“Ava ran 38 seconds faster than she ever has on our course and Jaci ran 47 seconds faster. These two make each other stronger.”
The next three Bulldogs were separated by just 31.8 seconds.
“Norelle Eilts rounded out our scoring members of the meet, but close behind was teammate Zoey Wallace,” Martin noted. “Norelle has really come on strong the last couple of weeks. She is peaking and finding confidence at the perfect time.
“Zoey lost her footing a bit coming into the sharp turn toward the finish line, which set her back a few seconds. She pulled through in Rockstar fashion and lost very little time from the mishap. Norelle earned herself a 58-second personal record on our course and Zoey a 61-second record on her home course.
“Teammate Kennedy Ashby ran a solid race for us today and continues to grow from the experience of the eighth-grade leaders. We look forward to what our younger athletes will do at state.”
The Class 3A girls’ state meet, to be held at Maxwell Park in Normal, will start at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday (Oct. 15).
“I say this often, we have one of the strongest teams in the state and because of that we find ourselves with some really strong athletes that have to sit on the sidelines,” Martin said. “Teammates Cecily Smith, Emma Bush, Claire Waggoner, Hannah Martin and Finley Smith all were ready to race if needed. It is awesome to know that we have such a strong group of athletes ready to run.”
