MSHS Cross Country teams compete at Richard Spring Invitational
By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com
It can be said, Mahomet-Seymour’s boys’ cross-country runners did their best on Saturday at the Richard Spring Invitational, at Peoria’s Detweiler Park.
All 16 Bulldogs who ran registered season-best 3-mile times. Thirteen of them produced lifetime bests.
The youth on the team prompted coach Neal Garrison to enter a number of his typical varsity runners in the 359-runner freshmen-sophomore race.
Kyle Nofziger was the third-place finisher, running the 3-mile course in 15 minutes, 51.1 seconds. His time was the 14th fastest by any M-S sophomore at any race in the 50-year history of the program.
M-S placed 16th in the freshmen-sophomore standings with 445 points. Meet champion Deerfield had 88 points.
Other Bulldog entries were Joseph Scheele (23rd in 16:26.3), Hayden Grotelueschen (94th in 17:13.8), Josh Wilcoski (137th in 17:40.5), Jonah Singer (190th in 18:08.8), Taylor Fan (191st in 18:09.0) and Gage Williams (197th in 18:15.8).
In the varsity race, M-S didn’t have enough runners to be scored as a team.
The Bulldogs’ competitors were Joe Taylor (283rd in 17:23.5), David Wilcoski (332nd in 17:53.6) and Caleb Dowers (336th in 17:55.4). There were 446 runners in the varsity race.
In the 673-runner open division, M-S’ Ben Wallace was 199th in 18:39.8.
Other teammates in that race were Karsten Waisath (206th in 18:44.1), Chase Misenheimer (386th in 20:24.4), John Tender (403rd in 20:38.8), Avery Seaman (512th in 21:52.1) and Alex Carpenter (619th in 24:03.2).
M-S ended 34th in the open race with 994 points. Meet champion Elmhurst York had a score of 63.
Squad members who achieved their career-best 3-mile times were Carpenter, Dowers, Fan, Grotelueschen, Misenheimer, Nofziger, Scheele, Taylor, Tender, Waisath, Wallace, Josh Wilcoski and Williams.
Seaman made his season debut, running with a cast on his arm. Carpenter was running his first competitive 3-mile race.
M-S will return to action on Tuesday, Oct. 15 in the Apollo Conference meet at Lake of the Woods.
Mahomet-Seymour Girls’ cross-country
The Bulldogs finished 33rd in a 66-school field on Saturday at the Richard Spring Invitational at Peoria’s Detweiler Park.
In the varsity race with 454 finishers, the top M-S runner was Elizabeth Sims in 18 minutes, 43.4 seconds.
Other Bulldogs in the varsity race were Ella Scott (178th in 19:57.6), Grace Lietz (201st in 20:12.9), Klein Powell (237th in 20:42.1), Emily Bednar (266th in 20:56.4), Olivia Bunting (329th in 21:42.4) and Chloe Allen (354th in 22:05.1).
In the team chase, M-S ended with 917 points. Meet champion Downers Grove South had 95 points.
The Bulldogs top freshmen-sophomore competitor was Callie Jansen (108th in 21:23.9). She was followed by Hannah Hofbauer (230th in 24:19.0), Natalie Parrott (234th in 24:30.2), Alyssa Christensen (258th in 26:07.8).
M-S did not have enough runners to be scored as a team in either the freshmen-sophomore or the open races.
In the 584-runner open race, Shaelin Ruzich was 142nd in 22:27.0, Ella Wolters was 272nd in 23:46.1 and Gretchen Scheele was 400th in 25:30.7.
For the day, Jansen and Scott each clocked personal-best times.
M-S will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Wheaton North Falcon Invitational.
