49th Spartan Classic packed with state-ranked competitors, SJO finishes fourth
By Fred Kroner
The Spartans’ top three runners on Saturday (Sept. 26) finished within four seconds of one another in the 49th-annual Spartan Classic girls’ cross-country meet.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the field was restricted to four schools, three of whom are state-ranked (according to milesplit.com) in Class 1A.
Second-ranked Monticello captured team honors with 22 points. Runner-up Unity (ranked fourth in 1A) had 35 points, unranked Class 2A entry Mahomet-Seymour was third with 81 points and 15th-ranked SJ-O was fourth (127).
The individual SJ-O leaders in the 3-mile race were freshman Helene Jones (23rd in 20 minutes and 46 seconds), freshman Chloe Burkhalter (24th in 20:50) and junior Malorie Sarnecki (25th in 20:50.1).
Other squad members who competed in either the varsity or the open race were: Ashlyn Lannert (29th in 21:19), Addie Allen (32nd in 21:28), Kailyn Ingram (37th in 21:49), Kaytlyn Baker (38th in 21:55), Taryn Sexton (40th in 21:59), Lauren Lannert (44th in 22:28), Maya Chahine (47th in 22:59), Chloe Allen (50th in 23:46), Kelsey Martlage (54th in 24:13), Mary Hinrichs (61st in 26:08) and Teagan Miller (62nd in 26:55).
The Spartans return to action at home on Saturday (Oct. 3) in a four-school meet that will also include Paxton-Buckley-Loda, Shelbyville and St. Teresa.
