Mahomet-Seymour’s Norelle Eilts and Reagan Ericson Lead State Qualifiers at IESA Sectional Meet
By FRED KRONER
Mahomet-Seymour seventh-grader Norelle Eilts was a two-event state qualifier based on her performance on Saturday (May 11) in the 16-school IESA Class 4A sectional girls’ track and field meet at Kankakee.
Eilts was the winner in the 800 meters, an event with 28 entries. Her time was 2:32.61.
She ran second in the 1,600 meters, but secured her advancement by bettering the pre-determined qualifying standard. She was clocked in a personal-best 5:43.28.
Also reaching state for the seventh-graders is Reagan Ericson, who took top honors in the discus (74 feet, 3 inches).
Seven teammates produced top-10 finishes in individual events at the sectional: Paige Jansen (third in the 1,600 meters in 5:49.93), Kebe Kellenberger (fifth in the high jump at 4 feet, 4 inches), Sarabeth Gergen (seventh in the 400 meters in 1:08.53), Jansen (seventh in the pole vault at 5 feet, 10 inches), Ashley Martin (seventh in the 800 meters in a personal-best 2:39.48), Jilyan Clark (eighth in the pole vault at 5 feet, 5 inches) and Rilynn Nelson (10th in the100-meter hurdles in 19.69 seconds).
Other Bulldog relays that fared well included the 1,600-meter foursome of Nelson, Ava Cvengros, Gergen and Eilts. That unit placed fifth in 4:44.09.
The M-S 800-meter relay grouping of Nelson, Ailey Johnson, Brooke Alderks and Eilts were sixth in 2:01.44.
Normal Kingsley won the team crown with 81 points. M-S finished in third place with 52 points.
—
Mahomet-Seymour’s eighth-grade girls’ track and field team secured four state-meet berths in the IESA Class 4A sectional on Saturday (May 11) at Kankakee.
Marissa Thompson won the 400-meter dash (personal-best 1:02.21), Cecily Smith was second in the pole vault (10 feet) and Finley Smith was third in the pole vault (9 feet 1 inch).
Also advancing was the Bulldogs 1,600-meter relay foursome of Finley Smith, Annie Clements, Cecily Smith and Thompson. Their composite time was 4:27.17.
Six other M-S runners scored top-10 finishes individually, including Cecily Smith in the 800 meters (third in 2:43.90).
The others were: Madi Bain (fourth in the 800 meters in 2:50.24), Chandler Mills (fourth in the 1,600 meters in 6:19.11), Kennedy Ashby (fifth in the 1,600 meters in 6:32.70), Finley Smith (ninth in the 400 meters in a personal-best 1:02.21) and Lilly Meyer (10th in the 100-meter hurdles in 19.36 seconds).
Mackenzie Bonham was a two-event placer in the weights. She captured third in the discus (77 feet, 1 inch) and fourth in the shot put (24 feet, 8 inches).
Meyer finished eighth in the long jump (13 feet, 6 inches).
Other top relays for the Bulldogs included the fourth-place, 800-meter foursome of Bain, Clements, Thompson and Lainey Jacobs. Their combined time was 1:55.39.
The 400-meter relay included Keira Sternhagen, Sydney Bohannen, Harper Young and Meyer. They finished the race in sixth place (56.40 seconds).
Champaign Jefferson won team honors (87 points), Normal Chiddix was second (85 points) and M-S was third (72 points).
The state-qualifiers return to action starting on Friday (May 17) at the Eastside Centre, in East Peoria.
