Hornettes Win Nashville Invitational
The Nashville Hornettes track team defeated 19 other teams on their way to their first Nashville Invitational title since 1999. Front row from LEFT to RIGHT: Avery Meade, Grace Maschhoff, Brittnie Bartling, Rachael Kell, Mariel Elliott, Taylor Cook, and Allyson Grabowski. Middle row from LEFT to RIGHT: Dailey Szopinski, Kaly Huge, Josie Middleton, Jadah Heidel, Emily Stern, and Kylie Kozuszek. Back row from LEFT to RIGHT: Vanessa Wyciskalla, Emily Harper, Jaylyn Bower, Annabelle Epplin, and Hannah Meade.
By Brent Huelsmann
The Nashville Hornettes track team is on a roll as the team completed three meets. Nashville competed at the Greenville Relays, the Tri-County Invitational, as well as the girls NIT. The Hornettes came away with victories in the Tri-County Invitational, as well as the Girls NIT. It was the first outright win of the girls NIT since 1999.
The Hornettes competed in the Greenville Relays on April 22. The Hornettes finished the meet in third place behind Hillsboro and Pana. At the meet, the Hornettes got first in two different events. Janie Holle and Abby Kroener brought home first place in the discus, while the team of Taylor Cook, Allyson Grabowski, Brittnie Bartling, and Grace Maschhoff crossed the line in first place in the 4X800M relay.
The Hornettes next challenge came at the Tri-County Invitational, which was held at Breese Central High School. The Hornettes fought off a plethora of challengers coming home in first place. Nashville finished with 128 points, followed by Okawville in second, Breese Central in thrid, Mater Dei in fourth, Greenville in fifth, Wesclin in sixth, and Christ Our Rock Lutheran in seventh. The Hornettes got two first place finishes in the meet as Maschhoff finished first in the 1600M race, while Jadah Heidel finished first in the 100M hurdles.
The Hornettes then competed in one of the biggest track meets of the year, as 20 teams converged on Nashville High School for the Girls Nashville Invitational. The Hornettes would have to compete conference rivals, as well as teams they could face in the sectional. The Hornettes were able to come out on top, as they finished with 84 points. Carterville finished second, followed by Freeburg in third, Murphysboro in fourth, Chester in fifth, and Okawville in sixth place. The Hornettes got just one first place finish at the meet, as Kroener finished first in the discus. In the 1600M race, freshman Grace Maschhoff took down a 30 year old record. Maschhoff broke the record by just three hundredths of a second.
