MSJHS competes in Linda Parnell Bulldog Invitational

By Fred Kroner

Five seventh-graders and three eighth-graders from Mahomet-Seymour were triumphant on Thursday (April 20) in a rain-shortened girls’ track and field meet at home.

The Bulldogs competed against Bloomington, Normal Kingsley and Normal Parkside.

Garnering first-place finishes for the seventh-grade squad were Abigail Rudicil (400 meters in 1 minute, 15.2 seconds), Norelle Eilts (800 meters in 2:45.3), Kennedy Ashby (1,600 meters in 6:11.8), Mackenzie Bonham (shot put at 20 feet, 3 inches) and Charlotte Sinclair (high jump at 4 feet, 4 inches).

The eighth-grade meet champions were Ava Watkins (800 meters in 2:41.4), Hannah Martin (discus at 70 feet, 2 ½ inches) and Lily Carlson (pole vault at 6 feet).

The Bulldog eighth-graders won the meet with 126 points. The M-S seventh-graders were second to Normal Kingsley, 135-125. In the combined scoring, M-S was first with 251 overall points. Kingsley was second with 218 points.

One M-S eighth-grader was a top-five placer in two events. Taylor Mills was second in the 800 meters (2:43.3) and third in the 1,600 meters (5:43.6).

The 11-runner 800-meter race featured M-S athletes sweeping the top three spots. Following Watkins and Mills was Jaci Kellenberger (2:46.3).

Placing second for the eighth-grade squad were Cora Ummel (400 meters in 1:08.5) and Claire Waggoner (pole vault at 5 feet, 6 inches).

Erika Johnson (200 meters in 29.1 seconds) and Emma Busch (400 meters in 1:10.1) each took third for the Bulldogs.

Fourth-place finishers for the Bulldogs were Carlson (100 meters in 14.2 seconds), Anniston Huff (1,600 meters in 5:51.7), Selma Tilton (100-meter hurdles in 20.0 seconds and Ayla Finfrock (long jump at 13 feet, 7 inches).

Three eighth-grade M-S relays captured top-three finishes.

The 800-meter unit of Johnson, Alyssa Gray, Evelynn Hillard and Finfrock were second in 1:54.8.

Also winding up in the runner-up position was the 1,600-meter foursome of Busch, Ummel, Finfrock and Huff. Their composite time was 4:46.0.

The 400-meter unit of Olivia Cox, Mollie Schifo, Carlson and Ava Kersh took third in 55.3 seconds.

The Bulldogs’ seventh-grade team had runner-up finishes from athletes in two field events.

In the pole vault, teammates Cecily Smith and Finley Smith tied for second at 6 feet. Annie Clements was second in the long jump (12 feet, 10 ½ inches).

M-S’ Phoebe Graham was third in the 1,600 meters (6:17.6), Finley Smith was fourth in the 400 meters (1:16.2), Rilynn Nelson was fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (21.3 seconds) and Madi Bain was fourth in the long jump (11 feet, 11 inches).

Paige Jansen was fifth in two events: 800 meters (2:52.1) and in the pole vault (5 feet, 6 inches). Also winding up in fifth place were sprinters Joella Snodsmith (100 meters in 14.7 seconds) and Vanessa O’Herron (200 meters in 30.8 seconds).

Two seventh-grade relays captured second-place finishes.

The 800-meter grouping of Snodsmith, Clements, Nyla Patterson and Sinclair was second in 2:01.3.

Sharing the baton in the 1,600-meter relay were Clements, Eilts, Patterson and Sinclair. Their combined time was 4:49.3.

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In the annual nine-school Linda Parnell Bulldog Invitational on Thursday (April 13), M-S girls swept the top two spots in the eighth-grade 1,600-meter run.

Mills was first in 5:43.8 and Huff was just behind (5:46.0).

The eighth-grade team had double placers in three other individual events.

Watkins took second in the 800 meters (1:07.8) and Busch was third (1:10.1).

In the pole vault, Carlson ended second (6 feet) and Waggoner was third (5 feet, 6 inches).

Finfrock (fourth at 14 feet, 3 inches) and Gray (fifth at 14 feet, 2 ½ inches) were among the leaders in the long jump.

Finfrock also tacked on a fourth-place finish in the 200 meters (29.1 seconds). Kellenberger ended in third place in the 800 meters (2:54.8).

The eighth-grade 800- and 1,600-meter relays each finished second.

The 800 unit of Carlson, Gray, Hillard and Finfrock was timed in 1:54.4

The 1,600 foursome of Ummel, Finfrock, Watkins and Huff stopped the clock in 4:39.6.

Placing third was the 400-meter grouping of Cox, Schifo, Johnson and Kersh (56.2 seconds).

In the team chase, M-S was second to Normal Kingsley, 105-84.

The seventh-grade Bulldogs produced second-place finishes in three individual events.

Ashby was the runner-up in the 1,600 meters (6:18.4). Cecily Smith was second in the pole vault (5 feet, 6 inches) and Clements took second in the long jump (13 feet, 7 inches).

Capturing third place finishes for the Bulldogs were Sinclair (200 meters in 29.2 seconds and high jump at 4 feet, 4 inches), Eilts (400 meters in 1:11.3) and Jansen (800 meters in 2:54.1).

M-S charted fourth-placers in five events: Patterson (200 meters in 29.8 seconds and high jump at 4 feet, 4 inches), Graham (1,600 meters in 6:24.9), Bonham (discus at 59 feet, 4 inches) and Finley Smith (pole vault at 5 feet).

Cecily Smith crossed in fifth place in the 400 meters (1:11.7) and Bonham was fifth in the shot put (22 feet, 8 inches).

Two Bulldog relays placed second.

The seventh-grade 800-meter unit of Snodsmith, Clements, Sinclair and Patterson was timed in 2:01.0.

The 1,600-meter foursome, timed in 4:53.1, featured Graham, Eilts, Patterson and Sinclair.

The seventh-graders finished third in the team standing with 90 points.

In the combined scoring, for both the seventh- and eighth-grade programs, M-S was second to Normal Kingsley, 200-174.