THS takes on XC Regionals, Advances to Sectionals
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JACKSONVILLE—The THS Cross Country team poses for a post-race photo. Lead by Coach Steve Walters and seniors Kim Howard, Evan Morgan and Daniel Sloan the Tornadoes get past Regionals and advance to Sectionals.
Lucas Domonousky Breeze-Courier Photo
Lucas Domonousky
Breeze-Courier Sports Writer
JACKSONVILLE—The Taylorville Tornado cross country team visited Jacksonville to run in the IHSA XC Regional, taking place on Saturday at the Community Park in Jacksonville where the race spanned 2.9 miles. Taylorville finished the long haul toward the middle of the pack but that was all they needed. Both the boys and girls Tornadoes advance to the next round of Sectionals.
Coming into Jacksonville the Girls were ranked 6th out of the 8 teams partici- pating. They got off to a quick start out of the gate with Hallie Smith leading the charge for the Tornadoes. The 2.9 mile long run lasted 17 minutes until the first runner of the day crossed the finish line. The sophomore from Lincoln Becca Heitzig finished the race in 17:08.19. The first Tornado to finish was Hallie Smith. The sophomore came 23rd in the race with a time of 20:04.18. Following behind her was THS sophomore Ella Goodman whose finishing time was 20:10.18. Behind them were runners Kim Howard, Anna Goodman and Gracye Goodroe. The Girls finished 6th out of 8 possible places, right where they were expected.
Everyone knew it was going to be a tight race for the Boys. Five teams, including the Taylorville Tornadoes, made the race more interesting than most expected. Finishing first for the Boy’s portion of the race was Lincoln junior Brenden Heitzig. Coming in 5th place was Taylorville’s own sophomore Owen Morgan with a time of 15:44.17. Just behind him was his senior brother Evan Morgan. The senior finished his race with a time of 16:04.91. Behind the Morgan brothers was Jack Chesser and Will Turvey. Following them was
Brenton Good and the Sloan brothers.
“The boys were kind of split up a bit.” Tornado cross country Coach Steve Walters commented after the run. “Normally they are packed well but today they had a few gaps.”
The boys finished a strong fourth out of 12 talented schools.
“It all starts again and were going to do it all again next week,” Walters commented, happy with the results but not satisfied. “We know we are going to have to beat one of the teams that beat us.”
The confident Taylorville team will lace up their run- ning shoes next Saturday for Sectionals in Decatur. The meet will take place at Hickory Point Golf Course October 30th.
Jacksonville Regionals 2021
THS Girls results:
Hallie Smith: 20:04.18
Ella Goodman: 20:10.18
Kim Howard: 21:48.97
Anna Goodman: 21:38.02
Grayce Goodroe: 24:36.08
Lydia Heberling: 26:52.44
Brooke Heimsness: 27:13.09
THS Boys results:
Owen Morgan: 15:44.17
Evan Morgan: 16:04.91
Jack Chesser: 16:24.07
Will Turvey 17:01.64
Jesse Sloan 17:18.33
Brenton Good 17:55.59
Dan Sloan: 18:58.73
