Bulldogs to compete in seven events at IHSA State Track meet
By Fred Kroner
Mahomet-Seymour qualified individuals for the Class 2A girls’ track and field state meet in six events and one relay during the Rantoul Class 2A Sectional on Thursday (May 11).
Freshman Madalyn Marx led the way for the Bulldogs.
She advanced in the 200 meters (second in a personal-best 25.36 seconds) and the 400 meters (third in 57.51 seconds) as well as running the anchor leg on the qualifying 400-meter relay, which placed fourth in 50.42 seconds.
She teamed up with junior Lauren Burr, senior Karlie Fuoss and junior Meah Beacham on the sprint relay.
The other M-S state-qualifiers were Burr in the 200 meters (eighth in a personal-best 26.21 seconds), junior Ava Boyd (third in the 1,600 meters in a personal-best 5:11.13), Beacham (second in the triple jump at a personal-best 10.71) and sophomore Kelsie Fuoss (tied for sixth in the pole vault at 9 feet, 9 inches).
Based on sectional performances from throughout the state in Class 2A, Marx is seeded fourth out of 30 qualifiers in the 400 meters and is seeded seventh out of 36 runners in the 200 meters. Boyd is seeded fifth out of 32 qualifiers in the 1,600 meters.
M-S placed sixth in the 16-team sectional with 37 ½ points. Meet champion Tolono Unity totaled 112 points and edged runner-up Champaign Central, which ended with 110 ½ points.
Two other Bulldog runners who secured top-10 finishes recorded personal-best performances.
Burr was seventh in the 400 meters (1:00.80) and Kara Carney was sixth in the 300-meter hurdles (49.87 seconds).
Five other M-S athletes wound up among the top 10 in field events, including Kendyl Petro, who ended ninth in both the shot put (30 feet, 9 inches) and the discus (93 feet, 7 inches).
Other Bulldog leaders were high jumper Grace Rodebaugh (fourth at 4 feet, 11 inches), Karlie Fuoss (eighth in the long jump at 14 feet, 8 inches) and Abi Weiss (tied for 10th in the pole vault at 7 feet, 9 inches).
Three other M-S relays wound up among the top 10.
The 3,200-meter foursome of Chloe Bundren, Emma Frazier, Callie Jansen and Jinan Abdo were timed in 10:38.71 and finished seventh.
The featured runners on the eighth-place 800-meter relay were Holly Hawes, Chloe Merkle, Kira Smith and Hannah Hofbauer. Their combined time was 1:56.18.
Crossing in ninth place was the 1,600-meter relay unit of Carney, Smith, Bundren and Merkle. Their cumulative time was 4:27.56.
The Class 2A state meet starts on Friday (May 19) at Eastern Illinois University, in Charleston.
