Normal West Invitational (IL)
Fun race to watch! #MIXC #NormalWestInvite pic.twitter.com/sQz5VbjqUz
-- Coach Lundin (@LundosCorner) August 29, 2015It was no shock that Flo50 #21 Maryjeanne Gilbert won her season opener. But the three girls from Minooka High School who put up a fight? That was a shock - and perhaps signals a shift in the Illinois girls cross country dynamic this fall.
Gilbert, a senior at Peoria, went out in a quick 5:38, but Mackenzie Callahan, Emily Shelton and Ashley Tutt were right behind in 5:43. Gilbert pulled away soon after the two mile mark and won in a Meet Record time of 17:30 for three miles, but the Minooka trio ran impressive times of 17:33, 17:36 and 17:39.
Minooka scored 30 points for the team title.
Is Minooka the new team to watch in Illinois, a state that includes two teams on the Flo50 National Rankings? For reference, the Indians finished just eighth at the Illinois State XC Championship last fall.