By Carl Zielinski
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006, The OG, sports

MAHOMET — Finishing with three new personal records, the girls cross country team, led by junior Michelle Mehnert, placed second today at the Mahomet-Seymour Invitational behind the host Bulldogs.

Freshman Elizabeth Russell, sophomore Elaine Gu (who recorded her first-ever time under 20 minutes), and freshman Isaure Hostetter were those who broke their old personal records, while Mehnert and junior Shivani Khanna were under three seconds from breaking theirs on the three-mile course.

Mehnert, who placed sixth and ran the three-mile course in 19 minutes, 23 seconds, won the trophy for fastest junior as the No. 4-ranked Illineks continued to prove themselves as one of the top Class A teams in the state.

As if this weren't enough, the top four girls finished in a strong 30-second split, and the top five girls had almost an exact two-minute split.

“We packed it up really well, even on a really winding course,” said junior Samantha Nguyen. “We all pushed really hard, and everyone did really well.”

With 76 points, the girls finished almost exactly in between Mahomet-Seymour (27) and Rochester (118), while Urbana High School finished fourth (128), followed by Effingham St. Anthony (139). Fourteen teams scored in the meet. Mahomet-Seymour, a powerhouse led by former Uni coach Bonnie Moxley, is ranked 18th in Class AA. Rochester is ranked No. 6 in Class A. (Rankings are by Illinois Prep Top Times, an online publication that can be found here.)

Assistant coach Karl Knox was satisfied with the girls' hard work.

“Mahomet was a force to be reckoned with, and they [the Uni girls] did as well as possible,” he said. “They placed a solid second, and they were strong individually, as well.”

The results speak for themselves. Taking home the second-place plaque, the girls turned in these times and placings:

— Michelle Mehnert, 19:23, 6th
— Shivani Khanna, 19:25, 8th
— Elizabeth Russell, 19:40, 13th
— Elaine Gu, 19:56, 17th
— Jennifer Roloff, 21:24, 42nd
— Samantha Nguyen, 21:43, 48th
— Isaure Hostetter, 22:26, 63rd

The girls will run again Monday at the Amboy Invitational, on a 2.9-mile course.

2006 VARSITY RESULTS
(Meets at the U of I Illini Meadows in bold; courses are three miles unless otherwise indicated)

Aug. 29: Kickapoo Kickoff Classic, 1st (27 pts)
Top Uni runner: Elizabeth Russell, 1st overall (20:34)

Sept. 2: Chrisman Cowchip Classic, 2nd (18 pts)
Top Uni runner: Michelle Mehnert, 2nd in No. 2 flight (19:57)

Sept. 5: Twin City Championship, 1st (32 pts)
Top Uni runner: Michelle Mehnert, 1st overall (20:29)

Sept. 9: Peoria Woodruff Invitational, 3rd (122 pts)
Top Uni runner: Michelle Mehnert, 8th overall (19:34)

Sept. 12: Home Meet, 1st (16 pts)
Top Uni runner: Shivani Khanna, 1st overall (20:46)

Sept. 16: Tuscola Invitational, 1st (56 pts)
Top Uni runner: Michelle Mehnert, 4th overall (19:20)

Sept. 19: Clinton Quad Meet: 1st (22 pts)
Top Uni runner: Michelle Mehnert, 2nd overall (20:47)

Sept. 23: St. Joseph-Ogden Spartan Classic, 2nd (105 pts)
Top Uni runner: Michelle Mehnert, 6th overall (11:50, 1.97-mile course)

Oct. 7: Mahomet-Seymour Invitational, 2nd (76 pts)
Top Uni runner: Michelle Mehnert, 6th overall (19:23)