Powell, Sims lead Bulldogs at Richard Spring Invitational

By Fred Kroner

The state-ranked Mahomet-Seymour girls’ cross-country came in 42^nd on Saturday in the 63-school Richard Spring Invitational at Peoria’s Detweiller Park.

Two seniors led the way for the Bulldogs.

Klein Powell was the team’s first placer, coming in 215^th in 20 minutes, 23.1 seconds. Elizabeth Sims was just behind, placing 222^nd in 20:24.4. There were 436 runners in the varsity race.

Trailing Powell and Sims were: Callie Jansen (234^th in 20:30.2), Emily Bednar (262th in 20:49.8) and Grace Lietz (273^rd in 20:55.5).

The other M-S competitors were Delaney King (314^th in 21:26.1) and Chloe Allen (377^th in 23:01.9).

“Our varsity team worked together well,” M-S coach Jama Grotelueschen said. “Klein Powell and Elizabeth Sims finished 1-2 for our team, only one second apart.

“They were followed closely by Callie Jansen. Emily Bednar, who has shown improvement in every race this season, was fourth for our team.”

Those four – plus Lietz – finished just 32.4 seconds apart.

Elmhurst York (93 points) earned team honors in the varsity race, followed by Prospect (171). M-S was 42^nd with a score of 1154.

In the girls’ open race, the Bulldogs claimed 24^th place in a field of 32 teams.

Alyssa Christensen was the team leader, running the course in 23 minutes, 53.4 seconds for 196^th place.

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She was followed by McKenzie Hissong (209^th in a personal-best 24:06.3), Hannah Hofbauer (253^rd in 25:03.7), Meg Turner (259^th in 25:12.5), Gabby Reeves (315^th in 26:13.8), Emily Bergia (370^th in 27:52.6) and Natalie Parrott (389^th in 28:46.0).

Elmhurst York won the team title with a composite score of 15 points. Oswego East was second (94) and M-S was 24^th (740).

In the freshmen-sophomore race, the Bulldogs fared well, placing eighth out of 41 schools with full teams.

Prospect was the team champion (58 points), followed by Wheaton Warrenville South (76). M-S was eighth with 271 points.

Three M-S participants were among the first 50 finishers in a race with 301 competitors.

Ava Boyd was ninth individually, ending in 19:16.4.

Chloe Bundren was 19^th in 19:40.0 and Ava Jansen was 50^th in 20:27.6.

Also competing for M-S were Lauren Bednar (110^th in 21:43.9), Morgan Waisath (129^th in 22:06.7) and Emmaline Culp (215^th in 24:28.1).

Boyd, Bundren and Bednar all recorded their top prep times, with Bednar knocking 30 seconds off of her previous best.

M-S, ranked 13th in the latest milepslit.com Class 2A state poll, returns to action on Saturday (Sept. 25) at the East Peoria Invitational at Black Partridge Park.