So who finishes second behind Keller in November at Detweiller Park?

By Michael Newman

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The obvious thought in this classification is if anyone can get close to Anna Sophia Keller this cross country season? If you look at last year stats, you would think that this would be improbable. She went undefeated against Illinois runners last fall. Kelsey Hildreth, who ran side by side to Keller last spring in the 3200, finished 35 seconds behind Keller at last year’s state meet. She was the closest to Keller. On the average, her margin of victory was over one minute.

This, however, is a new season. But my thinking remains the same. I think it will be tough to stop this St. Anthony sophomore this season. There are runners that could be close. Daly Galloway, Adrienne and Maria Brauer, Annemarie Michael come to mind.

Here is a look at some of the top individuals to watch in 1A Girls this 2014 IHSA Cross Country season.

1A Girls Individuals

(In Alphabetical Order)

Taylor Bartolozzi – JR – Rochester

-    Finished 9^th at last year’s state meet running 17:47. She will be the lead runner for Rochester this season after injuries have forced teammate Meagan McNicholas out for the season. Taylor was in a car accident last spring and missed the entire outdoor season. She is healthy and ready to go this season according to her coach Bill Owens. As a freshman, she earned all-state honors by finishing 11^th at Detweiller Park.

Nicole Beebe – JR – Canton

-    Nicole had a breakout season last fall finishing 20^th in the 1A state meet. “Nicole has had a good summer of training,” said her coach Chancey Whittington. “With the experience of running in a state meet I feel that she will be able to run under 17:45 and be in the top ten this year.  Nicole also ran 19:23 at Detweiller at Dark.”

Ryan Block – SO – Knoxville

-    Ryan was one of the surprises in 1A last year when she finished 18^th at the state meet running 18:03. She has the potential of being in the top ten this season. Qualified for the state meet in the 1600 and 3200 last spring. She has personal bests of 5:28.15 for the 1600, 11:54.29 for the 3200.

Adrienne Brauer – SR – Petersburg PORTA

Maria Brauer – SR – Petersburg PORTA

-    PORTA can count on low numbers for their first two spots during this cross country season. The two sisters ran together at last year’s state meet with Adrienne finishing 5^th and Maria next in 6^th. Both should be challenging for top spots at this year’s state meet.

-    Comments from their coach and father Jim Brauer: “Maria has usually been the pace setter but Adrienne was actually within 2 to 4 seconds of her much of the 2013 CC season.  Adrienne had a bad day at Amboy and she had the flu almost the week before Sectionals, so I encouraged her to run very conservatively - just make sure she qualified.  Fortunately, she was feeling good a week later.  As far as strategy, they are comfortable with each other and I think as long as they are together, they have confidence that they are where they should be. 

They both had a great track season.  Adrienne broke the Gene Armor Invite indoor 3200 record with an 11:08 and Heather Hollis' (our 1991 cc state champ) record at the Rochester Invite with an (11:02). They made the decision before the season to concentrate on different events but also run the 4x800m relay.  It made a tough double for Adrienne, but she came out with a medal in both events.  Maria broke Adrienne's 2012 1600 record at Rochester (when Adrienne out-sprinted cc champ, Ivey Handley of DST and 2 time IESA 1600 champ Megan McNicholas of Rochester) in 5:12. She also anchored the 4x8 (4th place) with a 2:20 PR.She also broke Heather Hollis' school record at State with a 5:07 in prelims and made a run at Hildreth and Keller midway through the final and finished third.”

Deanna Deterding – SR – Red Bud

-    Deanna finished 8^th in last year’s 1A state meet running 17:46. She should be the top runner from southern Illinois this season with the potential of finishing in the top 5 at this year’s state meet. She did not run during the 2014 outdoor track season. Her PR’s from her sophomore season include 5:36 for 1600 and 11:40.03 for the 3200. She finished 8^th in the 1A state meet for the 3200 Meter Run in 2013.

Lauren Evelti – JR – Decatur St. Teresa

-    Lauren finished 36^th at last year’s state meet running 18:40. She should be one of the leaders of the St. Teresa in 2014. “Lauren is going to be the X-factor.  We don't see Lauren in the summer (her family spends every summer in Italy) so I trust she has been meeting her mileage goals,” said her coach Todd Vohland. “Lauren missed most of the track season with an injury so I look forward to seeing her when she returns tomorrow.  Potentially she is our #1 and an All-State contender, but with Bree Tschosik and Kelsey Cleary I could see Lauren as our #3 runner as well.”

Maura Farrell – SR – Herrin

-    Maura finished 30^th in last year’s 1A state meet running 18:31. She will be a part of a strong dup with Kara Martin for their school this season. She qualified for state in the 3200 Meter Run last spring. Her personal best for the event is 11:45. Expect her to challenge for a top 25 spot this fall.

Daly Galloway – SO – Gardner South Wilmington

-    Daly finished 3^rd at last year’s 1A state meet running 17:30. She earned all-state honors in track finishing 3^rd in the 3200 (11:07.61) and sixth in the 1600 (5:13.22). Daly ran 18:03 to finish 4^th at Detweiller at Dark at the end of July. If there is one runner that could challenge Anna Sophia Keller, it could be this student athlete. Even though she was third a year ago, she ran some fantastic times as a freshman last spring.

Megan Grady – SO – Amboy

-    Megan finished 35^th in last year’s 1A state meet running 18:40. She has the potential to be in the top 25 this season. She qualified for the state track meet last spring in the 3200 Meter Run. Her personal best for that distance is 11:45.28.

Erika Hibser – SR – Lewistown

-    Erika finished 17^th in last year’s 1A state meet running 18:03. She had a great track season earning all-state honors in the 3200 finishing 5^th (11:10.23) and 8^th in the 1600 (5:15.80). She could be one of the surprises in 1A this summer with a possibility of placing in the top 5.

Abby Jones – JR – Woodstock Marian

-    Abby finished 37^th in last year’s 1A state meet running 18:41. She is one of the reasons why Marian Central will challenge for a state qualifying spot this fall. “Abigail always amazes.  In person, she is a wonderful, goofy, smart and funny young woman.  She doesn't like the spotlight and will be the first person to direct it to someone else.  During meets, she is always at the finish line for every race until the last racer comes through, even if she is tired from her own run,” said her coach Amy Beattie. “When she runs, though, she is all about the race.  Watching her looking ahead and knowing when to make her move is great to watch.  The determination and maturity she shows in her running is impressive.  She knows what she wants to achieve for each race and she does it.  She is so coachable because she listens, takes advice, but isn't afraid to question a few things and talk about trying new strategy (always saying Thank You even at the end of hard practices!).  The race where it really hit me was the McHenry County Track Meet when she placed 4th in the 3200m.  She ran an incredibly smart race and knew exactly what to do.  She can look at her competition during a race and modify strategy better than any freshman I've coached. This year, we would like her running with the lead pack more and working on her kick.  Track season helped her speed so I can't wait to see her finishing kick at the County Meet. Her goal for this year is to make All-State.  If she keeps working like she has, I have no doubt she can do it.

Anna Sophia Keller – SO – Effingham St. Anthony

-    Anna Sophia won the 1A Individual state championship running 16:35. Keller also finished sixth at the NXN Midwest Regionals last November. She finished second in the 3200 and first in the 1600 at the state track meet. Her PR for the 800 is 2:17.87, 1600 is 4:52.70, and 10:22.16 for the 3200. She ran the fastest time at the state meet last year regardless of classification. The sky is the limit for this student / athlete. By the time she graduates high school (if she can avoid injuries), she will be the most decorated Girls Distance athlete in Illinois Prep history. If conditions are right, she will get the Detweiller Park course record. Determination personifies this student / athlete. She makes alterations to her race plan every time she steps to the starting line.

Kara Martin – JR – Herrin

-    Kara finished 29^th in last year’s state meet running 18:31. Along with teammate Maura Ferrell the reasons why Herrin is ranked in 1A. She qualified for the state track meet in the 1600 Meter Run with a 5:21.07 PR. She has the potential to place in the top 25 at this year’s state meet.

Annemarie Michael – SO – Urbana University

-    Annemarie finished 10^th in last year’s 1A state meet. She had a great track season helping her 4x8 team to the state track meet. She earned all-state honors in the 800 finishing second (2:17.94) and fourth in the 1600 (5:11.00). Disregard the fact that she finished 10^th a year ago, she should be towards the front in 2014. “After what to her was a disappointing 10th place finish at last year’s IHSA state meet, Annemarie is ready to move up in the individual standings this season and, coming off a freshman track season that saw her lead our very young 4x800m relay to state and picking up 2nd place in the 800m and 4th in the 1600m, she is poised to do just that,” said her coach Doug Mynatt. “On the surface, she is very reserved and soft-spoken, but she is a fierce a competitor as I have ever coached.  With a year of hs running under her belt, coupled with another summer of running and competitive swimming, I’m looking for her to be even stronger.”

Jordan Peterson – JR – Harvard

-    Jordan finished 34^th at last year’s 1A state meet running 18:37. With a year of experience, she could be a surprise on the statewide scene possibly finishing in the top 15 at the end of the year.

Kirstie Ramsey – SO – Kewanee Wethersfield

-    Kirstie finished 14^th in last year’s state meet running 17:57. She qualified for the state meet in the 1600 and 3200. Her PR’s last spring were 5:26.68 for the 1600 and 11:39.94 for the 3200. The learning curve will be big for this sophomore this school year. Last year was Kirstie’s first season of organized competitive running. Her school district does not have a running program in the middle school. “Because we do not have a Jr cross country program, Kirstie had a lot to learn as a freshman,” said her coach Creston Fenn. “I feel her experiences from last years and this summer have significantly made her a smarter and therefore more dangerous runner on the course. I know we both have expectations to be a top ten runner at state.”

Taylor Renfroe – JR – Tolono Unity

-    Taylor finished 39^th in last year’s 1A state meet running 18:44. She is one of the reasons why Unity will be challenging for a state trophy. Taylor qualified for the state track meet in the 1600 Meter Run. Her PR in the 1600 was 5:24.98. She has the talent to finish in the top 25 this season.

Arielle Summitt – FR – Urbana University

-    This freshman is a reason why Urbana University could challenge for the state team championship. She was spectacular in her 8^th grade season setting an IESA state meet record in the 800 breaking that of now teammate Annemarie Michael. She also was the state champion in the 1600. “Arielle Summitt will have a huge impact on our team.  After finishing 5th at the IESA State XC meet last season for us, she followed that up by winning state track titles in the 800m and 1600m, breaking Annemarie Michael’s state-record in the Class A 800m run.  Arielle recently won the female division of the Indy Sprint Triathlon (500m swim, 10mi bike, 3mi run, I believe),” said U-High Coach Doug Mynatt. “Annemarie and Arielle will be joining forces once again after swimming together since elementary school and running together at Champaign St. Matthews and I think Annemarie will be pumped to have an athlete and long-time teammate like Arielle there to run with in workouts.”