Paige Jansen wins IESA Class 4A girls’ sectional race
By FRED KRONER
Seventh-grader Paige Jansen led Mahomet-Seymour Junior High School to the IESA Class 4A girls’ sectional cross-country team title on Saturday (Oct. 7) at Lake of the Woods.
Jansen was the individual winner in the 82-runner race. She ran the 2-mile course in 12 minutes and 26 seconds, finishing 3.2 seconds ahead of the runner-up.
The other six M-S runners in the sectional all secured top-20 placements.
Eighth-grader Cecily Smith was fifth (12:58.9), sixth-grader Ashley Martin was seventh (13:01.8), sixth-grader Chandler Mills was 12th (13:12.1), seventh-grader Ava Cvengros was 13th (13:16.0), eighth-grader Finley Smith was 16th (13:18.8) and eighth-grader Kennedy Ashby was 19th (13:24.9).
The M-S composite team score was 38 points. Runner-up Morton scored 51 points and third-place Champaign Edison totaled 126 points.
“The girls’ varsity squad came to race today,” veteran M-S coach Lisa Martin said. “Our runners once again found themselves reaching goals, running personal bests and competing to be the best.
“Paige Jansen once again led the Bulldogs with a 12:26. This time, she decided to just lead the whole race. Paige found herself in position to take over the lead and did it. Paige is learning so much this season and continues to grow each year.
“She was a strong runner last year that just didn’t know what she could do, finding herself on the sidelines for postseason. This season, she is the perfect example of what off-season training can do and how setting goals can dominate focus in training and competition.
“She had some really strong goals that she had been working on the latter half of the season and (at sectionals) she met them. Looking forward to next weekend when she will work to meet a few more goals to complete her season.
“As Paige was earning the title of sectional champ, she was supported strongly by all six of the other Bulldogs, once again the secret to our success this season.
“Most teams are looking for a top five. We have been fortunate to be a top seven team. While only five score, the sixth and seventh placers push points back for other teams. With our 6 and 7 being so strong, our 1-5 run harder, and it could be any of our seven at any given meet.”
The top three team finishers qualified for state, which will be held on Saturday (Oct. 14) at Normal Parkside. The 24-team girls’ race will start at 1:45 p.m.
Schools are allowed three alternants on the state roster in case substitutions are needed. The remainder of the Bulldogs’ state roster includes sixth-grader Roya Beere, seventh-grader Emma Dewitt and seventh-grader Phoebe Graham.
