April 19, 2025
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Morris girls cross country team makes history

Morris reaches state meet as a team for first time

By Morris Herald-News staff report

The Morris girls country team of (left to right) Joy Dudley, Leah Ortiz, Dani Martin, Jadyn Bertram, Abby Hougas, Kensi Martin and Moriah Mayberry became the first girls team in school history to qualify for the state meet by finishing seventh at the Class 2A Metamora Sectional. (Submitted photo)

METAMORA — For the first time in school history, a Morris girls cross country team will take part in the state meet at Peoria’s Detweiler Park.

Morris finished seventh in the Class 2A Metamora Sectional on Saturday and earned the state berth.

Morris was led by freshman Danica Martin, who ran the 2.94-mile course at Black Partridge Park in 18:51.24. She was followed by freshman Mackensi Martin (25th, 19:24.37), junior Joy Dudley (31st, 19:44.53), freshman Jadyn Bertram (33rd, 19:49.96) and junior Moriah Mayberry (88th, 21:43.93). Freshman Leah Ortiz (103rd, 22.30.51) and sophomore Abby Hougas (104th, 22:35.72) also ran for Morris.

Morris did not qualify as a team in the boys race, but two Morris runners - senior Matt Clark and junior Kaden Welch - qualified as individuals. Clark turned in a seventh-place finish in 16:04.87 and Welch finished ninth in 16:09.67. Both earned all-sectional honors by finishing in the top 10.

Class 3A

Quincy Sectional: Minooka’s girls and boys teams each advanced to next weekend’s state meet.

The girls team won the title at Bob Mays Park with a total of 51 points, beating runner-up Yorkville’s total of 56.

Junior Ella McCollom led the Indians with a fourth-place finish in 18:48. She was followed by senior Audrey Boles (7th, 18:54), junior Gabby Kicks (9th, 19:08), senior Jocelyn Host (15th, 19:32) and freshman Taya Gummerson (21st, 19:47) to round out the scoring. Also running for Minooka were sophomore Cassie Fuhrman (28th, 19:59) and senior Kathryn Cichon (31st, 20:04).

The boys team finished third with 120 points, trailing winner Plainfield South (54) and runner-up Plainfield North (78).

Junior Zack Balzer (8th, 16:00) was the top finisher for the Indians, followed by senior Dan Schalk (9th, 16:03), senior Cole Kics (27th, 16:46), senior Alex Forster (33rd, 16:56), and sophomore Hayden Host (52nd, 17:15). Also running for Minooka were sophomore Caleb Kies (59th, 17:22) and senior Emerson Fayman (63rd, 17:27).

Class 1A

Oregon Sectional: The Seneca girls team finished second with a score of 123, trailing only winning Winnegabo’s score of 26, and qualified for next weekend’s state meet. Evelyn O’Connor led the Lady Irish, finishing second with a time of 19:47.84. She was followed by junior Ashley Alsvig (17th, 20:58.31), senior Audrey Jenkins (39th, 22:02.58), sophomore Gracie Steffes (42nd, 22:02.95) and freshman Natalie Misener (59th, 23:01.91) to round out the scoring. Also running for Seneca were sophomore Lauren Cronkrite (68th, 23:37.36), and junior Keeli Pumphrey (23:53.37).

In the boys race, Seneca sophomore Austin Aldridge finished 19th with a time of 17:44.95 and qualified for the state meet.


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