Bulldog runners finish in top 60 at Richard Spring Invitational

By Fred Kroner

The state-ranked (Class 2A) Mahomet-Seymour boys’ cross-country team placed 14^th on Saturday (Sept. 18) in the 61-team Richard Spring Invitational at Peoria’s Detweiller Park.

In a field of 457 runners, three Bulldog seniors all finished among the top 60.

Setting the pace was Joseph Scheele, who ran the 3-mile course in 15 minutes, 20.7 seconds. Scheele entered the chute in 35^th place.

The next M-S runners were Kyle Nofziger (53^rd in 15 minutes, 39 seconds) and Jonah Singer (56^th in 15:42.2).

Other Bulldogs in the varsity race were Ben Wallace (146^th in 16:35.6), Hayden Grotelueschen (159^th in 16:40.4), Karsten Waisath (191^st in 16:54.6) and Taylor Fan (216^th in 17:03.6).

Sandburg was the team champion with 63 points. York was second (129) and M-S ended 14^th (438).

In the open race, M-S ran 20^th in a 38-team meet.

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Downers Grove South was first with a team composite of 50. Chicago Lane was second (101) and the Bulldogs were 20^th (590).

Senior Gabe Wisnasky was the M-S leader in a race featuring 548 competitors. Wisnasky ended 70^th in 17:57.5.

Teammates following him were: Gabe Difanis (109^th in 18:37.2), Avery Seaman (112^th in 18:40.6), Gage Williams (153^rd in 19:20.8), Kaleb Kasper (385^th in 22:39.6) and Alex Carpenter (411^th in 23:06.9).

In the freshmen-sophomore race, M-S placed 38^th in a field with 49 full teams.

Oak Park-River Forest ran first (71 points), followed by Naperville North (160). M-S was 38^th with 956 points.

Freshman Lukas Nykaza was the Bulldogs’ first finisher. He took 108^th out of 362 runners and was timed in 18:14.7.

Other M-S entries were: Blake Dillman (167^th in 19:04.9), Grant Smysor (201^st in 19:34.5), Jaxon Themanson (279^th in 21:09.6), Zach Wilcoski (293^rd in 21:28.6), Caleb Xamis (317^th in 22:08.9) and Will Slezak (334^th in 22:54.5).

M-S, ranked sixth in the latest milepslit.com Class 2A state poll, returns to action on Saturday (Sept. 25) at the East Peoria Invitational at Black Partridge Park.