Mendota High School’s cross country runners competed against 10 Northern Illinois schools at Winnebago’s Season Opener at Fuller Forest on Sept. 10.
The 2.05-mile boys’ race was won by Winnebago’s Nicolai Martino in a time of 9:56. Ryan Pieper of Stockton (10:23) placed second, while Aiden Vazquez (10:32) of Winnebago and Anthony Kelson (10:35) of Mendota were third and fourth respectively.
Additional finishes for Mendota were Carlos Toribio (12:49, 24th), Ryder Woods (13:36, 38th), Spencer Kain (13:38, 39th), Hector Gonzalez (13:53, 45th), Travis Mumm (15:05, 62nd) and Gage Richey (17:48, 73rd).
Team scoring showed Winnebago winning with a total of 18 points, followed by Elgin Larkin (55) and Forreston (115). Mendota was fourth with 127, while Genoa-Kingston finished with 160, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart with 161, Durand with 167, Eastland with 197 and North Boone with 200.
In the girls’ heat, Winnebago provided the top three finishers with Morgan Capriola (12:30), taking the top spot. Mendota participants were Emily Banks (18:53, 40th), Anna Valdes (19:53, 43rd), and Payton Stavropoulos (22:35, 47th).
Winnebago posted the top team score (20), followed by Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (62), Genoa-Kingston (65), Eastland (100) and Forreston (129).
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Mendota participated in the Princeton Invitational on Sept. 14.
MHS’s Kelson took top honor in the varsity boys’ race, running the 3-mile course in 16:37. Caleb Krischel of Fieldcrest was second (17:37). Additional finishes for Mendota were Toribio (20:24), Gonzalez (21:53), Aiden Fisher (25:28) and Mumm (27:28).
Topping the team scoring was LP with 38 points, followed by Mercer County (52), Amboy (85), Morris (97), Lowpoint Washburn (103) and Mendota (137).
In the girls’ race, Lowpoint-Washburn teammates Elly Heineke (19:45) and Kyndre Delagranges (20:17) were first through the chute. Mendota’s two entrants were Banks (33:41) and Stavropoulos (35:16).
Mercer County took the team title.
The 1.94-mile JV boys’ race was won by Noah Belowske of Orion in 11:27. Mendota’s lone competitor was Richey, who completed the course in 16:09. Additionally, Fernanda Valdes competed in the 1.94-mile open, finishing in 18:43.
