Mendota’s Mari Biers clears a hurdle during the 300-meter hurdles at the Morris Invite on April 15. She finished in second place. (Photo courtesy of Bureau County Republican)

SPRING VALLEY – The Mendota boys’ and girls’ track team were among the participants in the Rollie Morris Invitational on April 15 at Spring Valley.

There were 15 girls’ teams in the event and the Lady Trojans finished in fifth place with 57 points. The top four teams were Bureau Valley (134), Amboy-LaMoille (90), Hall (80) and Putnam County (63).

Four Mendota girls took second-place honors in their events. They included Mari Biers in the 300-meter hurdles, Phalen Hessenberger in the high jump, Abby Phalen in the triple jump and Lydia Willis in the discus.

The Trojans were last among 10 boys’ teams with seven points. St. Bede won the meet with 126 points.

Eli Otterbach had the best finish for Mendota with a fourth-place effort in the high jump.

April 15 – Morris Invite

(girls)

Bureau Valley 134, Amboy-LaMoille 90, Hall 80, Putnam County 63, Mendota 57, Streator 47.5, St. Bede 34, Newark 12.5, Henry-Midland 9, Fieldcrest 8, Princeton 7, Stillman Valley 5, Ohio 4, Somonauk 3, Aurora Christian 1

Mendota 2^nd place: Mari Biers, 300m hurdles, 49.24; Phalen Hessenberger, high jump, 4-7; Abby Phalen, triple jump, 32-7.5; Lydia Willis, discus, 112-6

Mendota 3^rd place: Biers, 100m hurdles, 17.09; Lauren Schimmer, high jump, 4-7

Mendota 4^th place: 4x100 relay (Biers, Kylee Zinke, Emma Foley, Abby Motter), 53.96; 4x200 relay (Motter, Foley, Zinke, Hessenberger), 1:58.22; Willis, shot put, 33-5

Mendota 6^th place: Schimmer, triple jump, 29-7

(boys)

St. Bede 126, Streator 113, Bureau Valley 66, Putnam County 62, Hall 56, Henry-Midland 38, Somonauk 33, Newark 32, Fieldcrest 22, Mendota 7

Mendota 4^th place: Eli Otterbach, high jump, 5-5

Mendota 6^th place: Jonathan Patino, 800m run, 2:16.65; Preston O’Sadnick, 110m hurdles, 19.25; Austin Lipe, triple jump, 37-9