Mahomet-Seymour Girls’ Cross Country wins at Mount Zion
By Fred Kroner
Seven Bulldogs secured top-10 finishes on Monday (Sept. 14) in a 40-runner field at Mount Zion.
With meet champion Avah Turner leading the way, M-S captured team honors, totaling 22 points.
Runner-up Mount Zion accumulated 52 points and Effingham ended with 70.
Turner’s 2-mile time was 13 minutes and 10 seconds.
Teammates joining her among the top 10 finishers in the 40-person race were: Chloe Bundren (third in 13:26), Madalyn Marx (fifth in 13:50), Taylor Mills (sixth in 13:51). Ava Jansen (eighth in 13:53), Hadley Grotelueschen (ninth in 13:55) and Phoebe Truax (10th in 13:56).
On Thursday (Sept. 17), M-S held a junior varsity meet at 13 Acres Park against Mount Zion and dominated the competition.
Sixth-grader Ayla Finfrock was the runaway winner, completing the 2-mile course in 15 minutes and 2 seconds. Her margin of victory was 22 seconds.
Teammates in the top 10 in a field of 34 runners were: Ella Walk (second in 15:24), Cora Tandy (third in 15:30), Emma Busch (fourth in 15:32), Claire Waggoner (fifth in 15:42), Erika Johnson (sixth in 15:46), Olivia Cox (seventh in 16:14), Zoe Wallace (eighth in 16:20) and Emery Parker (10th in 16:27).
On Saturday (Sept. 19), the Bulldogs competed against themselves at 13 Acres Park in what was billed as the Intrasquad Spectacular.
The top 10 Bulldog finishers in a field of 21 were: Caroline Mercer (first in 17 minutes and 10 seconds), Lainey Howard (second in 17:36), Cora Ummel (third in 17:53), Elizabeth Zimmerman (fourth in 18:01), Madison Koester (fifth in 18:08), Megan Smith (sixth in 18:09), Kaylee Guth (seventh in 18:31), Lydia Risser (eighth in 18:35), Caroline Allen (ninth in 18:36) and Madisyn Gones (10th in 18:37).
M-S coach Lisa Martin expected the event to be competitive.
“Our team is full of talent, so this race was going to be one that pushed teammates to do their best,” Martin said. “With such a large team, we really don’t have to go far to find the best friendly competition around.”
