MTZ girls track team finishes in top-10
The Mt. Zion Braves 4×800 team of Emma Mallory, Sofia Munoz, Emma Crowley and Camille Mavis stand on the first place part of the podium after winning IHSA 2A Girls Track and Field State Championship 4×800 relay.
By BLAKE FAITH
Staff Writer
The Mt. Zion girls track team finished in ninth place at the IHSA 2A Girls Track and Field State Championship last weekend. The Braves had three individuals and a 4×800 team that medaled in Charleston.
“The last three years we’ve been in the top-10,” Head coach Kelly Fox said. “We’re going to have seniors that continue to graduate but I am hoping that each tenured group continues to lead the younger ones towards the same work ethic and success that’s needed to keep achieving at this level.”
The 4×800 team of Camille Mavis, Emma Mallory, Emma Crowley and Sofia Munoz won the 4×800 relay state championship. Mavis started out for the Braves and got them into the top-5. Mallory continued at that pace.
Crowley then during her turn willed the Braves into second place before giving it to the anchor Munoz. Munoz dug deep and during the second lap caught Lake Villa’s Becca Runyon and then passed her with 200 meters to go. Munoz crossed the finish line to give the Braves nine minute and 38 second school record time for the championship.
“I saw the number one girl in front of me and I knew if I could just hold on and then I will make my moves this will all come together,” Munoz said. “My legs were burning and I just knew not to look back.”
For Mallory, it was her final run as a Brave and she held back tears while taking questions.
“This is my last high school race,” Mallory said. “I’m really proud of my team and what they did for all and I’m just proud to return home with a big win.”
Senior Ashleigh Anderson competed in the 800 meters final and fought her way to a fourth-place finish. Anderson started her pace early and at the start of the second lap broke through a couple of opponents and willed her way to a fourth place finish and a school record time of two minutes, 16 seconds and .72 of a second.
“I was trying to stay positive and keep myself in the right mental space,” Anderson said. “This is my last race and the break, but I just wanted to go in strong and go out with a band.”
Rhiannon Marshall medaled for the Braves in high jump with a eighth-place jump of 1.57 meters. Alexa Weter medaled in Pole Vault jumping a seventh-place tying jump of 3.25 meters.
Hannah Sago made the finals for Triple Jump. She finished in 12th place with a jump of 10.57 meters.
Other Braves’ that competed at the IHSA 2A Girls Track and Field State Championship included Lily Ford who finished 14th in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 49.74 seconds.
The Braves’ 4×400 team of Anderson, Brooklyn Kondritz, Hillary Owens and Munoz finished in 11th place with a time of four minutes and 14 seconds.
Munoz finished in 20th place in the 1600 meters with a time of five minutes and 32 seconds. Kondritz finished in 13th place in the Pole Vault with a jump of 2.90 meters.
The last three years we’ve been in the top 10. We’re going to have seniors that continue to graduate but I am hoping that each tenured group continues to lead the younger ones towards the same work ethic and success that’s needed to keep achieving at this level.
“This season was fun but we had to work through adversity,” Coach Fox said. “I don’t remember weather being quite an issue in the past like it was this season. Lots of cold and rainy days but great leaders lead by example. These girls didn’t complain but worked through it. Great role models. We always say contr what you can control.”
This year’s team will lose seniors Anderson, Raleigh Allen, Alaina Barr, Madison Inman, Mallory, Marshall, Katie Janvrin, Chloe Karnes and Sago.
“Wow, I hate losing this amazing group of seniors,” Coach Fox said. “I am hoping that my underclassmen step up and take their new roles seriously. We’ve never had this many seniors continue in our program for four years and find the success that this group did. They were truly amazing.”
