By FRED KRONER
The state-ranked Spartans’ boys’ cross-country team emerged victorious on Saturday (Oct. 3) in a four-school meet at home.
SJ-O, ranked ninth in Class 1A in the latest milesplit.com state poll, totaled 32 points. Following the Spartans were Mount Zion (47), Decatur St. Teresa (73) and Shelbyville (75).
The boys’ individual race featured a virtual photo finish as four runners in the field of 39 finished within three seconds of one another.
SJ-O’s Brandon Mattsey outstepped teammate Carson Maroon to claim third place. Mattsey’s 3-mile time was 16 minutes, 35.1 seconds. Maroon finished in 16:36. The individual winner was timed in 16:33.
Starting with Mattsey, seven Spartans crossed the finish line within 55 seconds of one another.
Trailing Mattsey and Maroon were: Logan Wolfersberger (seventh in 16:50), Charlie Mabry (eighth in 16:51), Elijah Mock (10th in 17:02), Luke Stegall (13th in 17:19) and Ethan Blackburn (14th in 17:30).
Other participants for the Spartans were: Spencer Wilson (18th in 17:36.1), Lukas Hutcherson (20th in 18:14), Aden Armstrong (21st in 18:14.1), Isiah Mock (23rd in 18:19.1), Holden Jones (25th in 18:47), Zach Dahman (29th in 19:16) and Brock Kellenberger (39th in 24:41.).
SJ-O returns to action on Tuesday (Oct. 6) in the Illini Prairie Conference meet at the St. Joseph Community Park.
