MATTOON -- It was not your ordinary annual Mattoon Cross Country Invitational Thursday at Lake Land College and not only because the temperatures were in the 90s with high humidity, but because of the shooting that occurred at Mattoon High School Wednesday.
Neoga and Charleston teams as well as others had green ribbons pined on their uniform to show there support and Illinois State Senator Dale Righter of Mattoon spoke to the participants before the girls' meet started.
"I brought them all together and first thanked them for their support, they have shown our kids and our community for the events of the last day and a half," said Righter, a MHS volunteer assistant coach. "I reminded them that as important as running is and the work and training we put in there are things that are more important. We saw an act of heroism Wednesday when a Mattoon teacher decided it was more important to keep students from being harmed and was willing to risk her life. That act embodies how all of us, coaches, administrators, teachers, staff, parents and loved ones, see our kids and for us (coaches) we wanted to tell them we were glad the were here and we got to see all of their beautiful, shiny faces."
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The Charleston girls repeated as the champions and freshman Megan Garrett beat out 108 other runners winning with a time of 19:50.88. The Lady Trojans won the 11-team meet with 66 points, which was 18 better than second place Effingham. Mattoon was fourth with 112 points, while Neoga/Stewardson-Strasburg placed sixth with 141 and Cumberland was eighth with 181. Casey-Westfield also competed, but did not have enough runners for a team score.
On the boy's side Mount Zion won the 16-team meet with 63 points and Charleston was second with 95 points. Cumberland was fifth with 136, Casey-Westfield ninth with 227, while Mattoon was 11th with 264 and Neoga/S-S 12th with 273. Tri-County also participated, but did not have enough runners for a team score.
Mount Zion's Mason Jones nipped Charleston's Nick Oakley for the individual title in the three-mile race that featured 172 runners. Jones won by .36 with a time of 15:59.01.
The top 75 received a medal and the first place teams received a trophy.
Girls
Three of the top four finishers are freshmen, including Garrett, Cumberland's Jasmyn Dittamore and Mattoon's Kylie Haacke.
"Before this week my goal was to break 19 minutes and get a personal record," said Garrett. "When I saw the heat I just wanted to be in in the top five. I wasn't expecting that finish."
Charleston coach John McInerney did alter the teams plans due to the heat.
"We thought coming into it that we were one of the favorite teams and then the heat throws a wrench into things a little bit," said McInerney. "We kind of game planned to run from behind and the girls executed that really nice. They didn't get themselves in any trouble early. We didn't want anyone getting in any big trouble. We didn't run really fast times. I was pleased with the win and they way they ran. They did it as a team. "
Garrett said, Usually I started out pretty fast, but our coach told us it is pretty hot and to be careful. I went out pretty slow and l liked it because I could speed up instead of slow down."
Dittamore finished second with a time of 20:15.76 and had the lead heading into the final half mile.
"We are friends and she is such a good runner," said Garrett. "This was my first time running against her this year and we were really looking forward to seeing each other."
Dittamore said she was pretty happy with her race, especially for how hot it was.
Haacke's time was 20:58.65.
"As a freshman it is really cool to finish fourth," said Haacke. "It was my first invite that I finished in the top 10. I tried to run my own race because we had some issues at our school. I just tried to run for my school."
Kylie Haacke's father Troy Haacke, the Mattoon coach said, "I am very proud of her not only from a coaches standpoint, but from a dad's standpoint. She looked strong from start to finish despite what every other kid was going through on the team. The adversity that I know all of the student-athletes were going through. A lot of girls ran really well in the heat, which was a factor. As a team and a community we sincerely appreciate all of the support not only our local schools and community have given us, but the schools around the area. We have had several school come up and talk to our kids and come up and give us a card. It just makes this a special sport even in a tragic situation. It shows love and everyone coming together."
Neoga was led by Emmalyn Walk with a time of 21:11.67, good for sixth place, while Casey's leader was Brittany Wright who was 37th with a time of 23:12.13.
Boys
Oakley, a senior, has defeated Jones, a junior before and the two battled it out Thursday.
"They have battled back and forth," said Charleston coach Brian Oakley, Nick's father. "Nick has defeated Mason by a few steps before and Mason got him by a step today. Austin Ames ran really well (third place with a time of 16:26.52) and Lance Niemerg ran really well and he is moving up. He is running with some guys that he has not run with in the past. Josh ran well and so did Fin O'Neal, who are both in cross country for the first time. they are learning every day. Mount Zion is in the top 20 in Class 2A and that is who we have our eye on right now."
Nick Oakley said of the heat, "It was very rough. I was feeling good before the race and I didn't think it was going to be that hot, but once you got going in that second and third mile it really hit you. It was all mental right then. Mason and I have been battling all season and it is really a lot of fun because we were stride for stride the entire race and I need someone like that. It makes it easier."
One thing Oakley has worked on and improved on his start.
"Ever since I was in seventh grade my dad always said I started to slow," said Oakley. "This season I have really starting going faster. I have a strong kick and a strong start and that really helps. I am happy with it (performance) . We all ran for Mattoon and all tried to come together to support them."
Neoga's Reece Johnson was fourth with a time of 16:40.82 on what is Neoga's home course.
"It is hot and humid and I knew the Charletston (Oakley) and Mount Zion (Jones) kid coming in," said Johnson. "I knew I was going to try and stay with them. I didn't know the other Charleston kid (Ames). I knew the other two would go out fast. They drove me along pretty well. I have all the respect in the world for them."
Cumberland's Kort McClellan was seventh with a time of 16:48.40, while Casey's Cort Ross was 12th with a time of 17:23.52 and Tri-County was led by Ross Petty, who ran the race in 20:01.50, good for 77th place.