Mahomet-Seymour Boys’ Cross-Country Dominates Charleston Invitational, Led by Juniors McMurry and Gaudio

By Fred Kroner

Paced by juniors Henry McMurry and Auggie Gaudio, the Mahomet-Seymour boys’ cross-country squad cruised to team honors in the 19-school Charleston Invitational at Eastern Illinois University on Saturday (Sept. 7).

McMurry was sixth, running the 3-mile course in 16:13.91. Gaudio was seventh in 16:14.07. McMurry and Gaudio ran the 15^th and 16^th fastest times, respectively, by M-S juniors at Charleston.

Four other M-S runners secured finishes among the top 25: Kaleb Kasper (19^th in 16:51.08), Zach Wilcoski (20^th in 16:53.43), Lukas Nykaza (21^st in 16:56.36) and Tate Bode (24^th in 17:05.33).

Kasper and Wilcoski were two of eight Bulldogs to run lifetime bests on a 3-mile course. Kasper’s time was also the 23^rd fastest by an M-S senior at Charleston.

Bode’s time was the 21^st fastest by an M-S sophomore at Charleston.

Others with career PRs were: Jack Van Hoorn (43^rd in 17:44.99), Gavin Fan (71^st in 18:31.49), Ben Schultz (83^rd in 18:46.06), Jackson Koontz (86^th in 18:49.24), Blake Patrick (107^th in 19:28.65) and Matthew Gray (162^nd in 21:08.18).

Mahomet-Seymour captured team honors with 75 points. Olney placed second with 99 points and Mount Zion took third with 118 points.

The top 40 runners in the race earned medals. For the Bulldogs, others besides McMurry, Gaudio, Kasper, Wilcoski and Bode to collect medals were Liam Burwell (27^th in 17:21.80, Adam Smigielski (31^st in 17:31.11) and Corban McMinn (40^th in 17:44.15).

Burwell and Smigielski ran the 17^th and 21^st fastest times, respectively, for M-S freshmen at the Charleston meet.

M-S returns to action on Saturday (Sept. 14) in the Lee Halberg Invitational at Springfield’s Lincoln Park.