Nofziger, Scheele and Sims strong at Normal University High Invitational

By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com

Kyle Nofziger and Joseph Scheele had breakout performances for Mahomet-Seymour’s boys’ cross-country team on Tuesday.

They were second and third, respectively, in a 166-runner field at the Normal University High Invitational.

Nofziger was timed in 15 minutes, 50.90 seconds for the 3-mile layout.

Scheele finished in a career-best 15:56.40.

“Kyle and Joseph ran the fastest and third-fastest sophomore times we have ever had at this invitational,” M-S coach Neal Garrison said.

Beyond that, they are two of 17 M-S sophomores overall in the past 50 years to register 3-mile times under 16 minutes.

The team’s third runner for the U-High meet, Jonah Singer, placed 11th in a career-best 16:49.10.

“Jonah made the largest improvement of the day,” Garrison said. “He improved 1 minute and 19 seconds from his season best.”

Nick Mies placed 15th in 17:00,70, matching his top time. With Josh Wilcoski’s 24th-place finish in 17:19.70, M-S was able to secure the runner-up team finish.

Normal U-High won the meet with 50 points. M-S was close behind at 52. Eleven full teams were entered.

WIlcoski is part of a competitive pack vying for the final scoring position on the team.

“Our team had four runners pushing each other for our No. 5 spot,” Garrison said. “This was a great team effort since our team score is determined by the top five finishers.

“Some coaches say that the most important runner on the team is the fifth runner.

“Josh Wilcoski, Hayden Grotelueshen, Joe Taylor and Gage Williams all finished within 20 seconds of each other. This was very important to the team score.”

Grotelueschen was 27th in 17:20.40. Taylor was 34th in 17:36.80 and Williams was 39th in 17:39.90.

Williams received a medal for being the second fastest of any runner not in his school’s top seven.

The next four M-S placers all ran at or near their lifetime bests.

Taylor Fan was 49th in 18:00.80. Ben Wallace was 54th in 18:07.40. Karsten Waisaith was 76th in 18:47.10. Peter Slezak was 79th in 18:50.50.

“Peter had one of the best improvements on the team.,” Garrison said. “It is rare to have someone improve this much at this point in the season.  He improved 60 seconds.”

Other Bulldog competitors were Chase Misenheimer (122nd in 21:00.50), Alex Seaman (123rd in 21:13.50) and Alex Carpenter (160th in 24:36.70).

M-S returns to action on Saturday in the Metamora Runnin’ Reds Invitational.

Mahomet-Seymour Girls’ cross-country

M-S’ Elizabeth Sims was the individual winner in Tuesday’s Normal University High School Invitational.

The Mahomet-Seymour High School sophomore was timed in 18 minutes, 49.10 seconds and won the 3-mile girls’ race by 9.8 seconds.

Two of her teammates pulled off top 10 finishes in a field of 100 competitors.

Grace Lietz was sixth in 19:35.70 and Ella Scott was eighth in 19:50.60.

Klein Powell was 11th for the Bulldogs (19:55.20) and Olivia Bunting was 15th (20:14.90).

Ten other Bulldogs also competed.

Emily Bednar was 19th in 20:37.40, Callie Jansen was 23rd in 20:58.90, Delaney King was 26th in 21:20.40, Chloe Allen was 30th in 21:43.20, Shaelin Ruzich was 38th in 22:17.90, Ella Wolters was 40th in 22:50.60, Alyssa Christensen was 50th in 23:32.90, Gretchen Scheele was 62nd in 24:27.40, Hannah Hofbauer was 73rd in 25:06.30 and Natalie Parrott was 77th in 25:49.10.

The meet champion was Normal U-High with 27 points. M-S was the runner-up with 41 points, far outdistancing Normal West, which ended third in the team chase with 105 points.

M-S returns to action on Saturday in the Metamora Runnin’ Reds  Invitational.