By Fred Kroner
Oakwood/Salt Fork started Saturday (Oct. 30) with six active runners on the girls’ cross-country team and finished the day with one remaining competitor.
Sophomore Macie Russell was the lone squad member to qualify for state after competition in the Decatur Class 1A IHSA Sectional at Decatur’s Hickory Point Golf Course.
Russell finished in ninth place in a meet with 151 participants, completing the 3-mile course in 19 minutes 24.05 seconds.
She earned one of the 10 state berths that went to individuals not members of advancing teams.
The top six schools also qualified for state. Oakwood/Salt Fork’s team placed 12th in the 21-school meet with a composite score of 343 points.
Tolono Unity was the team champion with a composite of 57 points. SJ-O was second with 90 points. The other team qualifiers were Monticello (108 points), Urbana Uni High (109 points), Robinson (164 points) and Marshall (178 points).
The Comets’ entire sectional lineup consisted of underclassmen, including junior Allie Morris, who was 43rd (21:07.49) and missed a state berth by 35.86 seconds.
Other Oakwood/Salt Fork competitors were freshman Aubrie Elliott (76th in 22:43.12), freshman Alyssa Wells (111th in 24:28.39), junior Brylie Smith (148th in 29:50.48) and junior Addie Wright (149th in 30:43.26).
