By Fred Kroner
Comet freshman Macie Russell cut nine seconds off of her regional time on Saturday (Oct. 31) at the Decatur Class 1A Sectional at Hickory Point Golf Course.
Russell’s 3-mile time was 19 minutes, 57.2 seconds. She placed 25th in a field of 117 performers.
She was joined at sectional by one other Comet teammate, who also finished in the top half of the field.
Sophomore Allie Morris was 49th in 20:53.2.
The sectional was the final IHSA meet of the season for Oakwood/Salt Fork.
In previous years, the top seven runners not on teams that qualified for state would have also extended their seasons by a week.
Russell was the No. 11 finisher among individuals whose teams would have qualified for state in a non-pandemic year.
“Both girls did a great job improving throughout the season, saving their best times for the last two meets,” Oakwood/Salt Fork coach Phil Surprenant said. “Macie Russell, especially, stepped up as a freshman, running under 20 minutes, for the first time on Saturday.”
