Mahomet-Seymour Girls’ Cross-Country Dominates Apollo Conference Meet, Secures Victory with Three All-Conference Runners
By FRED KRONER
Led by three all-conference runners, Mahomet-Seymour’s girls’ cross-country team won the six-team Apollo Conference meet on Tuesday (Oct. 15) at Mount Zion.
Emily Anand was third (18:17.00), Taylor Mills was fourth (18:53.90) and Cecily Smith was fifth (18:55.40).
The Bulldogs’ first seven runners placed among the top 21 in the 52-runner field.
Kennedy Ashby was 11th (20:10.20), Finley Smith was 15th (20:38.50), Morgan Waisath was 19th (20:46.00) and Jinan Abdo was 21st (20:52.20).
Each of the runners – except Mills, who is returning from an injury that curtailed her training and is competing at less than 100 percent – registered career-best 3-mile times. Mills was the first sophomore to finish at the conference race.
The top 10 individuals were accorded all-conference status.
M-S had a composite score of 38 points. Runner-up Mount Zion finished with 59 and third-place Effingham had 62 points.
“The team ran lights out,” M-S coach Jama Grotelueschen said.
Sixteen of 18 squad members recorded either career-best or season-best times.
Other career PRs belonged to Emma Frazier (22nd in 20:55.60), Emily Ramirez (27th in 21:13.50), Emmaline Culp (30th in 21:42.00), Selma Tilton (35th in 22:28.10) and Ruby Anderson (41st in 23:33.10).
Posting season-best marks were Ava Jansen (26th in 21:11.80), Caroline Allen (39th in 22:45.80), Blaire Gabel (23:48.70), Grace Bednar (25:51.50) and Camryn Nelson (26:03.00).
The meet served as Senior Night for M-S.
“Their leadership this year has been outstanding,” Grotelueschen said. “They have been instrumental in helping shape an extremely positive team culture this year.”
The Bulldog seniors are Chloe Bundren (28th in 21:21.50), Culp, Frazier, Jansen and Waisath.
M-S will return to action on Saturday (Oct. 26) in the Class 2A Sectional at Mattoon’s Lake Land College.
