MTZ Cross Country qualifies for State
By Blake Faith
Staff Writer
The Mt. Zion Cross Country program is heading to the State Championship in Peoria. For the girls side this is the fourth consecutive year competing in the state tournament.
The girls finished as a team in third place which according to Head Coach Kelly Fox is the highest that any Mt. Zion team has ever accomplished.
Sofia Munoz finished the highest for the girls side in sixth place crossing the line in 19 minutes and 33 seconds. Ashleigh Anderson finished in 25th with a time of 20 minutes and 23 seconds. Ellie Fritzsche finished 36th with a time of 20 minutes and 34 seconds.
Hailey Betzer finished in 38th with a time of 20 minutes and 35 seconds. Camille Mavis finished in 45th with a time of 20 minutes and 45 seconds. Renee Ballard finished in 20 minutes and 47 seconds earning her 47th place. Emma Mallory crossed the line at 21 minutes and 13 seconds earning her 56th place overall.
“Looking over all the data from the last few races makes me realize what an amazing race we had last weekend at regionals,” Coach Fox said. “For some reason, we did not replicate those performances at the Sectional yet we were good enough, tough enough and deep enough to take third at the Sectional.”
The boys finished overall in fifth place at sectionals. Julian Baker crossed the line at 16 minutes and 22 seconds for seventh place. Daniel Grauer crossed the line 17 minutes and seven seconds for 21st place.
Lyncoln Koester finished at 28th place with a time of 17 minutes and 17 seconds. Kolby Koslofski finished in 69th place with a time of 18 minutes and one second. Sam Atkinson finished in 81sr place with a time of 18 minutes and 25 seconds.
Byron Gallardo finished with a time of 18 minutes and 43 seconds for 95th place. Carson Davis finished out the Braves competitors with a time of 19 minutes and 11 seconds.
The IHSA State tournament for Cross Country will be held at Detweiller Park in Peoria, Illinois. The girls will race at 11 a.m. and the boys at 12 p.m.
