Mahomet-Seymour Junior High opens season with victory over St. Joseph

By FRED KRONER

fred@mahometnews.com

Mahomet-Seymour’s junior high cross-country teams were victorious on Monday in their season-opening meets at 13 Acres Field.

M-S defeated St. Joseph, 20-61, in the girls’ meet. The Bulldog boys earned a narrow triumph over St. Joseph, 24-31.

The M-S girls had seven consecutive finishers, and they grouped themselves within 57 seconds of one another.

Avah Turner was the meet runner-up, covering the 2-mile course in 13 minutes, 49 seconds.

Turner was followed by six Bulldog teammates in the third through eighth positions.

Chloe Bundren placed third (13:59). Other teammates in the lead pack were Ava Jansen (14:08), Haley Reed (14:19), Reese Gallier (14:36), Phoebe Truax (14:43) and Madelyn Marx (14:46).

The other top 10 finisher for the Bulldogs was Hadley Grotelueschen (14:52) in 10^th.

In all, 19 Bulldogs competed in the girls’ race.

The team’s other participants were Isabel Lietz (12^th in 14:59), Emma Frazier (13^th in 15:25), Gabby Reeves (14^th in 15:27), Emmaline Culp (15^th in 15:31), Isabelle Difanis (16^th in 15:32), McKenzie Hissong (17^th in 15:38), Adella Bird (18^th in 16:11), Morgan Waisath (20^th in 16:12), Camryn Nelson  (24^th in 16:38), Addie Jessup (25^th in 16:41) and Ella Ylagan (26^th also in 16:41).

“All of these runners (in both races) were seventh- or eighth-graders and wore the Bulldog jersey with pride,” M-S coach Lisa Martin said. “The coaches are proud of them and can’t wait to see more of our runners compete.”

The boys’ race followed a similar pattern to the girls’ contest.

M-S had the meet runner-up, Lukas Nykaza, and two teammates finished just behind him.  The trio of Bulldogs all completed the 2-mile course within 10 seconds of one another.

Nykaza’s time was 12 minutes, 31 seconds. In third place was Auggie Gaudio (12:34) and behind him was Henry McMurry (12:41).

Other M-S competitors among the top 10 were Blake Dillman (seventh in 13:04) and Ethan Ramirez (eighth in 13:11).

Ty Clark was 12^th in 13:28 with Ethan Peterka running 14^th in 13:31.

Rounding out the M-S lineup were:  Bryton Perkins (18^th in 15:01), Mason Turngren (19^th in 15:05), Tucker Loven (20^th in 15:10), Will Slezak (21^st in 15:15), Owen Mahannah (22^nd  in 15:23), Max Peters (23^rd in 15:24), Jack Meyer (24^th in 15:39), Isaiah Benson (25^th in 15:42) and Landen McConkey (26^th in 16:17).

M-S returns to action on Thursday at the Chrisman Cowchip Classic and on Saturday at St. Joseph.