M-S Cross Country prevails at Halberg Invitational

By Fred Kroner

Mahomet-Seymour’s second-ranked (Class 2A) boys’ cross-country team ran away from the field on Saturday (Sept. 11) in the 10-team Halberg Invitational, in Springfield.

The Bulldogs finished with a team composite of 44 points in the 53^rd annual event. Runner-up Chatham Genwood had a point total of 93. Quincy and Urbana were next with 97 points.

M-S runners Kyle Nofziger and Joseph Scheele were second and third, respectively, in the 94-runner field.

Nofziger’s 3-mile time was 16 minutes and 19 seconds. Scheele was a step behind at 16:20. Nofziger and Scheele are both seniors.

Other M-S runners were: Hayden Grotelueschen (12^th in 17:10), Jonah Singer (16^th in 17:17); Ben Wallace (20^th in 17:25), Karsten Waisath (30^th in 17:49) and John Tender (41^st in 18:32).

In the junior varsity race, the Bulldogs finished second to Chatham Glenwood, which had a composite of 47 points. M-S had 49 points.

The individual champion in the 80-runner race was M-S’ Avery Seaman. His time was 18:29.

M-S’ other competitors were Gabe Difanis (fifth in 19:09), Grant Smysor (eighth in 19:33), Gabe Wisnasky (11^th in 19:38), Jaxon Themanson (38^th in 21:46) and Alex Carpenter (62^nd in 24:21).

There was also a 2-mile race for freshmen only.

Quincy won the meet with 39 points, followed by Mundelein (43) and M-S (53).

Two of the top three finishers in the 40-runner event were representing Mahomet-Seymour.

Blake Dillman was the winner, completing the course in 11 minutes and 53 seconds.

Teammate Lukas Nykaza was third in 12:07.

The team’s other runners were: Will Slezak (23^rd in 14:29), Caleb Xanis (25^th in 14:37) and Zach Wilcoski (27^th in 14:42).

M-S will return to action on Saturday (Sept. 18) at the Peoria Notre Dame Invitational at Detweiller Park.