M-SJHS Cross Country opens season with several wins
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By FRED KRONER
Mahomet-Seymour’s junior high cross-country teams hit the double trifecta in their season-opening race on Thursday (Aug. 18) at Tolono Unity.
M-S was triumphant in the girls’ race for seventh- and eighth-graders as well as in the boys’ race for seventh- and eighth-graders and also in a combined boys-girls race for sixth-graders.
Plus, the individual winner in all three races was representing M-S.
In the girls 2-mile race, the Bulldogs swept the top three spots with Anniston Huff prevailing in 12 minutes and 58 seconds.
Trailing her were Taylor Mills (13:20) and Ava Watkins (13:37).
M-S had 10 other runners place among the top 20 overall.
They were: Kennedy Ashby (fifth in 14:08), Emma Bush (eighth in 14:39), Cecily Smith (ninth in 14:40), Ayla Finfrick (10th in 14:41), Finley Smith (12th in 14:43), Erica Johnson (13th in 14:43), Hannah Martin (15th in 14:58), Jaci Kellenberger (17th in 15:04), Emily Ramirez (18th in 15:09) and Alyssa Gray (20th in 15:44).
The Bulldogs’ winning team composite score was 19 points.
In the boys’ 2-mile race, M-S’ Tate Bode outdistanced Cody Moen as the Bulldogs had the top two performers.
Bode’s time was 11 minutes and 39 seconds. Moen was a step behind at 11:40.
Twelve other M-S athletes secured berths in the top 20. They were Noah Crane (fourth in 12:32), Jack Van Hoorn (fifth in 12:35), Tayten Gergen (sixth in 12:49), Adam Smigielski (seventh in 12:52), Liam Noonan (ninth in 13:12), Dominic Gaudio (12th in 13:46), Liam Burwell (13th in 13:51), Carter Alderks (14th in 13:51), Kiptyn Fan (15th in 13:54), Jackson Koontz (17th in 14:02), Jamison Griffen (18th in 14:07) and Izaiah Brotherton (19th in 14:24).
The Bulldogs’ winning team composite score was 18 points.
The sixth-graders ran a 1-mile course.
M-S runners captured all of the top 17 spots, led by overall winner Grant Morphew, whose time was 6 minutes and 7 seconds.
He was followed by runner-up Will Bednar (6:21) and third-place Caleb Zulauf (6:33).
In fourth place overall was the first girls’ finisher, Phoebe Graham, whose time was 6 minutes and 37 seconds.
The next 13 placers were also from M-S.
They were: Greyson Grotelueschen (fifth in 16:37), Norelle Eilts (sixth in 16:39), Caleb Atteberry (seventh in 16:40), Oliver Graham (eighth 6:57), Emma Dewitt (ninth in 7:09), Paige Jansen (10th in 7:14), Corbin Moser (11th in 7:15), Abdel Abdo (12th in 7:15), Ava Cvengros (13th in 7:16), Keilen Mustread (14th in 7:17), Asher Miske (15th in 7:17), McKenna Hayes (16th in 7:18) and Kebe Kellenberger (17th in 7:18).
M-S’ other top-20 placer was Vanessa Oherron (20th in 7:32).
The Bulldogs’ composite team score was 15 points.
“The first meet is always a learning meet,” M-S coach Lisa Martin said. “That is why we choose to travel to our run against some great local competition.
“While we do celebrate race success, we encourage the athletes to focus on areas that they could improve upon and parts of the race that they were excited about.
“I think my favorite interaction came from a conversation with sixth-grader Keilen Mustread. When I asked what he thought of his race, his answer was simple, ‘I can’t wait to do it again.’”
M-S (1-0) returns to action on Thursday (Aug. 25) in the Danville Invitational.
Martin said the Bulldog staff was pleased by what they saw in the first meet.
“The coaches could not be more excited about what lies ahead of this group of 115 athletes,” Martin said. “Some of our veterans had their best races, others found themselves reflecting on what they will work on to race better next time.
“Whatever the case, it was a great night to be a Bulldog.
She was especially gratified by the efforts of the collective sixth-grade group.
“The coaches were excited to watch so many kids go to the line for the first time ever in a Bulldog jersey,” Martin said. “Since this is the first school sport that our (sixth-grade) student-athletes can participate in, the coaches get to watch as they learn and experience the feeling of what it means to be a Bulldog and proudly wear their uniform with pride.
“It truly is an amazing experience.”
