Marx and Mahomet-Seymour relay aiming for state glory

MAHOMET — Standing off to the side of Robert ‘Moose’ Handlin track before the Mahomet-Seymour girls’ track and field team began practice on Tuesday afternoon, Anniston Huff didn’t struggle to find the words.

Or imagine, even just for a brief moment, the possibilities of what late Saturday afternoon could bring for herself and three of her teammates.

Huff is part of the Bulldogs’ 1,600-meter relay team that also includes Evelyn Hillard, Selma Tilton and Madalyn Marx. Huff, Hillard and Tilton are juniors, while Marx is the Bulldogs’ senior standout who is aiming for a third consecutive Class 2A state title in the 400-meter dash this week in Charleston.

Attention and pressure will follow Marx every time she steps foot on the blue track at O’Brien Field on the Eastern Illinois University campus when the IHSA state meet begins on Friday for the Bulldogs during the prelims and likely continues for M-S on Saturday when the finals happen.

Because Marx goes into the state meet with the state’s top 2A time in the 400 based on last week’s sectional meets — she registered a time of 54.89 seconds at the Metamora Sectional, almost three seconds faster than the next best time of 57.85 posted by Waterloo junior Paige Zlatic down in Mascoutah — and is also the anchor leg on the 1,600 relay that the Bulldogs will have competing in Charleston.

Hillard, Tilton, Huff and Marx clocked a time of 3:57.17 at the Metamora Sectional, more than four seconds faster than the second-best time of 4:01.27 compiled by Carbondale in Mascoutah.

So, simple question for a goal that’s difficult to achieve: What would winning a state title in the 1,600 relay mean to Huff?

“It would be so exciting,” Huff said. “I love these girls. They’re my best friends, and it would be such a special moment to win a state title with my favorite people.”

If M-S can close out the 2A state meet with a win in the 1,600 relay, the last event of any track and field meet, the Bulldogs could have a realistic possibility of bringing home a state trophy. Something M-S has done four times in program history, highlighted by Class A state championships in 1979 and 1980 under Handlin and a 1997 Class A state title under coach Jim Risley. But none in the past 29 years.

“If we were to bring home a team trophy, it would just be a culmination of what Coach Handlin and Coach Risley started,” Bulldogs coach Lisa Martin said. “Ris is one of my best friends. I talk to him regularly. He has guided me and supported me. To be able to have something that they were able to obtain in their own careers would be an honor.”

The Bulldogs will have eight individuals and two relays competing at the state meet.

Marx, however, is the headliner. The Ball State signee burst onto the state scene in 2024 by surging ahead late to win her first state title in the 400 with a time of 56.11 as a sophomore. She had an easier route in winning her second straight state title in 2025 with a time of 55.88 and is the favorite to do so again in 2026 after lowering her times even more this season.

Marx will still feel some jitters, though, when she lines up in her final appearance at O’Brien Field with M-S.

“It’s nerve-wracking, but I think that helps you go even faster,” Marx said. “It is a little sad that this is my last state meet, but I’m really excited to put it all out there and run my hardest.”

Marx could also give the Bulldogs some valuable points in the 200-meter dash. She placed second in state in the event last season and has the fourth-fastest sectional time of 24.92 going into this year’s state meet.

Taking part in the 1,600 relay only adds to Marx’s slate of races, but one she is more than willing to do.

“It’s almost like being on the relay takes the pressure off her,” Martin said. “Even on her days where she didn’t feel like she had her best day, she still shows up to that 4×4 line ready to go. She doesn’t see challenges. She only sees opportunities. It’s fun to see her smile.”

And fun for her teammates to have her in the relay, too.

“We all work together really well,” said Tilton, who is also a state qualifier in the 300 hurdles and runs the second leg of the 1,600 relay. “We have great communication, and we make it a team effort. It’s not just an individual thing.”

Hillard and Marx each ran legs on M-S’ 1,600 relay that placed second in state in 2024 with a time of 3:55.14. Getting near or slightly lower than that time this year could result in a first-place finish.

Hillard sets the tone on this year’s relay by running the first 400 meters.

“I enjoy cheering on my teammates after I’m done,” Hillard said. “Each of us have a certain role, and we all know our roles perfectly. It just works out in our favor.”

Once Hillard completes her lap, then it is Tilton’s turn before she hands the baton off to Huff for another sprint around the track. Huff will also compete in the 800 for the Bulldogs at state, and had been running the anchor leg until the sectional meet. Maintaining a lead M-S can build and giving enough time for Marx to either further the lead or chase down any runner in front of her is the goal for Huff before Marx gets ready to run the final leg.

“We all went into the sectional meet with a good mindset, and it was good energy all around,” Huff said. “Mady is obviously amazing, but she’s very humble, and she encourages all of us. She makes me want to do better since it’s a team thing, and it shouldn’t all have to fall on her shoulders.”

It won’t this week. Because Marx isn’t the only Bulldogs runner who could stand atop the podium with a first-place medal draped around her neck by the time Saturday evening arrives.

“Obviously, there’s a little bit of pressure, but so far, we’ve always risen to the challenge,” Huff said. “Hopefully, we can do that again on Friday and go into Saturday with all the energy in the world.”