Mahomet-Seymour takes second at Class 2A IHSA Sectional, Sims places fifth
By Fred Kroner
The Bulldogs had one top-five runner on Saturday (Oct. 31) in a Class 2A girls’ cross-country sectional at Olney Central College.
Elizabeth Sims covered the 3-mile course in 19 minutes, 15.49 seconds and placed fifth in a field with 115 participants. Sims was the first junior to cross the finish line and was an all-sectional runner.
In the 15-school team chase – featuring four state-ranked programs – M-S ended in second overall, placing ahead of two schools that were ranked higher in the final milesplit.com state poll.
Third-ranked Chatham Glenwood won the sectional championship with 44 points. Runner-up M-S (ranked 23rd) had a composite score of 134 points.
Following them were 20th-ranked Mascoutah (135 points), unranked Mount Zion (145 points) and 21st-ranked Highland (149).
The M-S girls’ program, which had sent teams to state nine of the past 10 years, did not get the opportunity to officially extend that streak.
The IHSA has canceled this year’s state meet due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In previous years, M-S and all of the other schools that finished among the top five would have advanced to the state finals.
On Sunday, M-S learned it has received an invitation to compete in an unofficial Class 2A state meet sponsored by ShaZam Racing on Saturday (Nov. 7) at Chillicothe.
All five of the Bulldogs’ scoring runners at sectionals were underclassmen.
Trailing Sims were junior Klein Powell (23rd in 20:10.54), freshman Ava Boyd (27th in 20:19.68), sophomore Callie Jansen (48th in 20:56.71) and junior Delaney King (56th in 21:12.21).
M-S’ other sectional competitors were senior Shaelin Ruzich (57th in 21:14.02) and junior Emily Bednar (68th in 21:30.00).
“I was thrilled with the outcome and am so proud of this team’s perseverance this year,” M-S coach Jama Grotelueschen said. “Sectionals was once again a flighted race. All of our athletes were within the top 10 of their respective flights.
“In a race where every place mattered, all of our girls exhibited so much grit. Times were not reflective of their effort as the course was sloppy and a bit longer than 3 miles.
“Once again, the key to our team’s success is our ability to pack together tightly. Even when the girls were not in the same flight, they managed to accomplish this feat.”
The Bulldogs had good workouts leading up to the sectional.
“We were lucky to have all but a few of our athletes continue practicing with us for our postseason,” Grotelueschen said. “These girls continued to push our varsity runners in practices and offer moral support. This team is such a tight knit group who really value one another.
“Much of our focus this season was on being grateful for the opportunities we were given. Our times together at practices were more than just training sessions to improve physical fitness.
“Due to the pandemic, there was an even greater social and emotional benefit to participating in cross-country this year. In many regards, the time at practice was the most normal part of our day. I feel very fortunate for the season that we did have and for the opportunity to coach some amazing young women. They certainly were a blessing to me, and I know Coach Keller feels the same.”
