CLINTON – Cross country races are a little different from track and field ones.
Though the cross country debuts of Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley senior Keegan DeWall and freshmen Brysen Butler ended on Clinton High School’s track on Saturday, there was one unfamiliar element to it: running on grass.
“The grass was the scariest part of the race,” Butler said.” I felt like I was going to twist my ankle the whole time.”
“It felt different, but I got used to it when I got to the second and third mile,” DeWall added.
The trio were the first cross country runners to represent GCMS during McCall’s lifetime.
“It was pretty crazy,” McCall said. “I didn’t ever think I’d be running cross country because I’ve been told for a while that we don’t have a cross country team.”
Regardless of the unfamiliarity, DeWall and Butler finished first and second, respectively, in the boys’ open race with times of 16:02.34 and 16:44.36.
“I felt good. I’m happy with how it went,” DeWall said. “Hopefully, I can set a personal record next time. I’m just trying to get better for track and stuff and get better times this year.”
The cross country debut came after successful summers in track and field as DeWall is coming off a first-place finish in the 1,500-meter run at the AAU Jackie Joyner-Kersee National Showcase at Clyde Jordan Stadium while Butler finished 25th with a time of 4:38.65 in the 14-year-old men’s 1,500-meter run at the AAU Junior Olympic Games on Tuesday, July 29.
“I’m super happy I did so well,” Butler said.
In the girls’ open race, McCall finished 12th with a time of 22:04.92, beating her old personal record, which was in the 23-minute range.
“That was really hard. It was a lot of fun, though,” McCall said. “I had a lot of fun. It was a cool environment.”
LIGHT IT UP INVITATIONAL
At Clinton
GIRLS VARSITY
Team scores
1. Shelbyville, 104; 2. Mahomet-Seymour, 133; 3. Rochester, 142; 4. Normal University, 158; 5. Pleasant Plains, 158; 6. Delavan, 176; 7. Bloomington Central Catholic, 254; 8. Monticello, 254; 9. Urbana University, 267; 10. Olney Richland County, 272; 11. Tri-Valley, 330; 12. Clinton, 336; 13. Moline, 345; 14. Sullivan, 380; 15. Tremont, 413; 16. Paxton-Buckley-Loda, 424; 17. Cerro Gordo-Bement, 432; 18. Quincy Notre Dame, 434; 19. Pontiac, 434; 20. Gillespie, 484; 21. Deer Creek-Mackinaw, 541; 22. Argenta-Oreana, 552; 23. Havana, 587; 24. Moweaqua Central A&M, 588; 25. Prairie Central, 591.
Top individuals
1. Klaire Eighner (MF) 17:07.14; 2. Tessa Bowers (SHEL) 17:35.51; 3. Leah Shoaff (SHEL) 17:48.58; 4. Ashley Zeibert (ROCH) 17:56.87; 5. Macie Owen (MON) 17:59; 6. Annabelle LaFary (DEL) 18:07.35; 7. Adelin Bruce (TV) 18:16.77; 8. Emily Anand (MS) 18:21.96; 9. Alaina Hawker (PP) 18:32.4; 10. Taylor Mabry (MON) 18:40.99.
PBL results – 24. Audrey McCoy, 19:19.16; 57. Maddison DeOrnellas, 20:37.81; 119. Brooklyn Stafford, 22:47.42; 121. Ella Strebeck, 22:53.57; 163. Cora Busby, 25:49.8; 169. Giselle Tufino, 27:04.14.
BOYS VARSITY
Team scores
1. Mahomet-Seymour, 51; 2. Clinton, 106; 3. Olney Richland County, 195; 4. Monticello, 208; 5. Moline, 215; 6. Gillespie, 225; 7. Tri-Valley, 232; 8. Normal University, 238; 9. Bloomington Central Catholic, 266; 10. Auburn, 268; 11. Shelbyville, 290; 12. Rochester, 344; 13. Sullivan, 353; 14. Bloomington Cornerstone Christian Academy, 363; 15. Prairie Central, 374; 16. Deer Creek-Mackinaw, 377; 17. Mattoon, 418; 18. Urbana University, 488; 19. Tremont, 514; 20. Heyworth, 515; 21. Olympia, 595; 22. Paxton-Buckley-Loda, 636; 23. Springfield Lutheran, 664; 24. Decatur St. Teresa, 692; 25. Stillman Valley, 697; 26. Quincy Notre Dame, 719; 27. Rantoul, 741; 28. Altamont, 755; 29. Villa Grove, 763; 30. Havana, 845.
Top individuals
1. Chaz Oberkfell (GILL) 14:41.24; 2. Quaid Berger (ORC) 14:42.76; 3. Johnathan Iacobazzi (SULL) 14:58.5; 4. Cayden Bostic (CLIN) 15:09.33; 5. Augustus Gaudio (MS) 15:15.53; 6. Corie Green (DEL) 15:15.92; 7. Judah Dicks (ORC) 15:17.37; 8. Tim Sikorski (MON) 15:18.46; 9. Henry McMurry (MS) 15:18.78; 10. Tate Bode (MS) 15:29.68.
PBL results – 84. Eli Grohler, 17:49.61; 117. Julio Barradas, 18:43.44; 150. Nolan Bunag, 19:36.35; 160. Zane Latimer, 20:02.63; 167. Shane Alden, 20:14.37; 169. Zaidyn Wielert, 20:23.29; 190. Alex Jones, 22:32.87.
BOYS OPEN
Top individuals
1. Keegan DeWall (GCMS) 16:02.34; 2. Brysen Butler (GCMS) 16:44.36; 3. Brayden Dalton (CLIN) 16:49.32; 4. Will Bednar (MS) 16:59.76; 5. Caleb Zulauf (MS) 17:03.1; 6. Oliver Reed (CLIN) 17:06.43; 7. Kiptyn Fan (MS) 17:16.09; 8. Shawn Ferguson (CLIN) 17:17.03; 9. Evan Lemme (Delavan) 17:20.82; 10. Kale Moore (Moline) 17:24.79.
PBL results – 20. Daniel Boston, 18:17.68; 132. Michael Ingoglia III, 23:18.34; 144. Zachary Grohler, 25:01.33; 162. Brandon Moore, 32:42.88.
GIRLS OPEN
Top individuals
1. Paige Jansen (MS) 19:40.13; 2. Emma Dewitt (MS) 20:08.05; 3. Eva Stalets (UNI) 20:18.77; 4. Eva Barke (UNI) 20:22.72; 5. Ava Cvengros (MS) 20:45.6; 6. Jocelyn Lewis (UNI) 20:54.27; 7. Katelyn Waisath (MS) 21:15.77; 8. Jinan Abdo (MS) 21:22.93; 9. Kinley Hardy (SHEL) 21:46.24; 10. Kelly Dietsch (UNI) 21:47.97.
GCMS results – 12. Erin McCall, 22:04.92.