Twyman, Pace Make Cross State
By Anthony Jones, Sportswriter
sports.times.tribune@gmail.com
Triad’s boys and girls cross country teams continued their march through the postseason last Saturday, as both teams competed in the Chatham Glenwood Sectional meet.
At the Oct. 29 IHSA meet, the boys side finished tenth overall. Their 238 point finish bested eight other squads.
The first Knight to hit the finish line was Drew Twyman, who clocked in at 15:27.70 for eighth place. This placement advanced the sophomore to the IHSA State Finals and was the second quickest of any underclassmen. His impressive time also moved him into fifth place in school history.
Drew Pace would also earn his way to the state meet. The junior trotted into fourteenth overall with a speedy time of 15:49.20.
Earning the bronze medal among Triad runners, Dalton Mersinger was the team’s next finisher. With a 16:46.20 mark, the third year runner finished seventy second.
Only four places later, Sam Kuckuck was the next Knight to finish. The speedy sophomore recorded a time of 16:51.50.
Junior Jacob Metcalf was the fifth Triad finisher, thanks to a 17:08.40 finish. This placed Metcalf in ninety third as an individual.
Seniors Ben Winslow and Dillon Henderson ended the day with respective one hundred thirty first and one hundred thirty fourth place finishes. The duo finished with times of 18:27.10 and 18:40.60.
The Lady Knights also battled at the Sectional, totaling 281 points. This led to a ninth place finish in the eighteen team field.
Highlighting their day was a 19:44.10 finish from Blaire Cunningham. The senior’s time was enough for forty seventh overall.
Not far behind Cunningham was Triad’s Kennedy Bowman. The talented sophomore found herself in fifty sixth via a time of 19:53.30.
Third place for the Lady Knights was secured by Morgan Mason. Mason, a freshman, finished in sixtieth place and ran a 19:59.10.
Kailey Peterson was the next Triad representative at the finish, checking in at 20:15.30. This time translated into a sixty eighth place day.
Eighty eighth place was home to the next Lady Knight – Amanda Bagwell. The junior relayed into this spot with a 21:05.00 mark.
Senior Chloe Gough was the next to stop the clock, having done so at 21:12.10. Gough secured ninety third overall with this time.
A one hundred fourteenth place finish, coming from Alivia Phillips, closed out the sectional meet. The freshman earned this placement with a 21:52.80 mark.
The IHSA State Finals will be held on Nov. 5 at Peoria’s Detweiller Park. Twyman and Pace will begin their race at noon, competing against advancers from three other sectionals.
