It was all smiles for this young lady in 2020
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2019 was a rough year in terms of cross country for senior Campbell Petersen. To bring it all in context after transferring from 2A powerhouse Dunlap High School, the talented Peterson packed her gold medal bags to Naperville North. Instead of instant success, Petersen was greeted with frustration via an injury that tested patience to the maximum. Her first race of the season would be the Dupage Valley Conference Championship in late October where she was the eighth Huskie to cross the line. Despite finishing a strong 14th overall, it was not the outcome many were expecting.
The remainder of Petersen's junior campaign was an up and down one that resulted in a seventh-place finish at sectionals to a 101st outcome at the state championship. Fortunately, Petersen was able to gain valuable post-state experience competing at Team Cross Country Nationals in Portland, Oregon.
Even after an abbreviated track and field season that produced a sub-5:00 mile, no one knew what to expect this fall. Covid-19 forced virtually everyone to dig inside of themselves to get in quality training during the quarantine.
Petersen opened the season well with a bevy of top-five performances which landed her as one of the team's premier runners. In addition, she was a Premium Individual 25 performer for the entire season.
Although her team fell short of winning the Shazam Championship that signaled the "state" champion, Petersen did her part by placing 13th overall in 18:36/5k.
There is no doubt that Petersen could have settled in the back of the Naperville North distance machine pack and still be a solid runner. But with determination followed by the will to be the best she could, Petersen returned as one of the elite runners in the state.
-Congrats to Campbell on her most improved runner of the year honor!
