Mahomet-Seymour takes second at Apollo Conference meet

By Fred Kroner

Mahomet-Seymour senior Elizabeth Sims captured all-conference accolades in cross-country for the fourth straight year on Tuesday (Oct. 12), finishing 10^th in the girls’ Apollo Conference meet at Effingham Country Club.

For the fifth consecutive year – the amount of time M-S has been an Apollo member – the Bulldogs placed among the league’s top two teams.

With four runners nabbing all-league recognition for top-10 performances, M-S ended one point behind Mount Zion, 38-39, in the chase for team supremacy.

Third-place Lincoln had a team composite of 100 points.

The Bulldog leaders were Ava Boyd (third in 19 minutes and 13 seconds), Chloe Bundren (fifth in 19:39.7), Callie Jansen (sixth in 19:41.5) and Sims (10^th in 19:58.9).

The four all-conference runners completed the 3-mile course within 45.9 seconds of one another. Since M-S switched to the Apollo Conference in the fall of 2017, 18 girls have earned first-team all-conference honors in cross-country.

There were 63 participants in the girls’ race.

The remainder of the M-S top seven featured Klein Powell (15^th in 20:41.9), Grace Lietz (16^th in 20:52.1) and Emily Bednar (18^th in 21:03).

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“Our athletes displayed tremendous heart and determination,” M-S coach Jama Grotelueschen said.

Jansen’s race was a particular highlight, with Grotelueschen calling  it, “possibly the best race of her high school career.”

Sims, who is recovering from an injury, registered an impressive performance as well.

“Elizabeth Sims displayed true grit,” Grotelueschen said.

Thirteen other Bulldogs also participated at the league meet, including six others who placed among the top-40.

Delaney King was 21^st (21:18.0), Ava Jansen was 26^th (21:53.4), Lauren Bednar was 29^th (22:16.3), Emmaline Culp was 32^nd (22:43.8), Morgan Waisath was 33^rd (22:56.1) and Chloe Allen was 36^th (23:11.8).

Rounding out the M-S contingent were: McKenzie Hissong (46^th in 24:35.1), Alyssa Christensen (47^th in 24:40.2), Meg Turner (51^st in 25:29.4), Hannah Hofbauer (52^nd in 26:10.8), Gabby Reeves (53^rd in 26:42.1), Emily Bergia (57^th in 28:33.2) and Natalie Parrott (60^th in 29:53.2).

Eight M-S seniors participated in their final regular-season meet.

Besides Sims, the others were Powell, Lietz, Emily Bednar, King, Allen, Christensen and Parrott.

M-S will return to action on Saturday (Oct. 23) in a Class 2A regional meet at Olney.