Don't ASK the question as to who is the best distance runner in Class A. Anna Sophia Keller is the top choice (Sabrina Mendoza photo)
Opening Thoughts: Generally in 1A girls, getting anywhere in the 17-minute range guarantees you a top ten finish, and getting anywhere under 18:20 guarantees an all-state spot. Last year however, coaches anticipated a competitive year and they were not disappointed. The top ten cut-off was 17:50 then going up to 18:00 for the first 15 harriers. And finally the all-state cutoff was 18:14. While this doesn’t even compare to what kind of cutoff times we generally see from 2A and 3A, this is still very astounding considering the small size of the schools. And this year, this kind of competition does not look to shrivel anytime soon with twelve of last year’s top 25 all back, including seven of last year’s top ten. And the most crucial component in the extremely competitive landscape is Effingham (St. Anthony) sophomore sensation Anna Sophia Keller. The multi-talented youngster appears to be head and shoulders above her competition. Hopefully, a deep returning field will add a bit of drama along the journey to Peoria and beyond.
1. Anna Sophia Keller (So.) Effingham (St. Anthony): So NOW we can start comparing ASK to some historical greats that paved the way before her. She may be in class 1A but her talent seems endless and it shall remain untapped against her classification colleagues. Last year, she ran the eighth fastest time on the famed Detweiller course in 16:35. In track ASK turned up the heat even more burning the track with some sensational times. In the 3200m, she ran an IL#2 10:22.16, which as it stands is tied for the seventh fastest time in state history. She also dropped a state best 4:52.68 in the 1600m for good measure. We can hype up all the possibilities that we want, ASK is the type of runner who just wants to win- never mind Madeline Perez’s (Glenbard West) 16:02 course record.
2. Daly Galloway (So.) Gardner (G.-South Wilmington): This young runner produced remarkable consistency throughout her freshman year of track and cross country, always showing up to state on her 100% A game. Last year at state, she posted a 17:30 placing third overall; once again in the 3200, she placed third with an 11:07. We know that she is putting in the summer work as the 18:03 clocking at The Detweiller at Dark meet proved. If anyone’s going to upset ASK this year (which may be improbable, but not impossible), it will very likely be Galloway.
3. Adrienne Brauer (Jr.) Petersburg (PORTA) [Coop]: Like Maria, her 5th place finish time of 17:33 was equally impressive (actually slightly more). Her track success was sound as well to say the least, running a swift 5:14 in the 1600 and a very impressive 11:02 3200. She should be back for an identically as amazing a season as her twin sister.
4. Maria Brauer (Jr.) Petersburg (PORTA) [Coop]: Along with Adrienne, she really showed up to run at state running 6th place overall with a time of 17:34, which is the fourth best time coming back from that race. Track for Maria was also a major success as she ran an 11:31 3200m, as well as finish 3rd in the 1600m finals with a time of 5:08 (5:07 prelim). This is a runner who was just outside the top five last year. Maria should improve on her fortunes in November.
5. Annemarie Michael (So.) Urbana (University): She stands as the seventh best returner from last year’s race with a 17:50. The crazy part is she didn’t even run her best race over at state, for she raced in the 17:30’s both at First to Finish and Sectionals. We see that she also had a spectacular freshman track season with a fourth place and second place 1600 and 800 showing with times of 5:11 and 2:17 respectively. And if that doesn’t convince you that she’s top five cross country material, maybe her 11:27 3200 during the season will.
6. Erika Hibser (Sr.) Lewistown: With ASK setting the bar high, there has to be some upperclassman trying to step up and reach it. Last year that upperclassman was Byron’s Kelsey Hildreth. This year it may be Ericka Hibser according to her amazing track success. She’s always been good being the ninth best returner at Detweiller with an 18:03. But clearly she has gotten even better than that with an 11:10/5:11 1600/3200 double, followed by a 5:15 in the 1600 finals. Maybe that is just being good at track, but very likely she is maturing into a better all-round runner.
7. Deanna Deterding (Sr.) Red Bud: She was ranked high in last year’s summer rankings after some major strides with her track times; boy she did not disappoint! Deterding finished in eighth place with a 17:46, making her the 5th best returner from last November. Like Bartolozzi, however, no track results of note. But that should not matter, for she is coming out of the shadows this summer with a 19:22 hustle over at Detweiller at Dark.
8. Taylor Bartolozzi (Jr.) Rochester: As the sixth best returner and 9th best place finisher last year with a time of 17:47, there is no reason why she cannot replicate this type of performance again. Bartolozzi’s track times were lean as she was only able to run 5:43- it is a little bit worrisome, but that is no reason to underestimate her capabilities.
9. Keri Burmester (Jr.) Red Bud: Last cross country season, she was good enough to qualify state and show up to Detweiller with 18:59, but it was mostly her teammate Deanna Deterding that was getting more of the attention. This year looks to be a different story as 11:34/5:23 were her track marks and just recently we saw how her summer had been progressing with an 18:59 already over at Detweiller at Dark, beating even her own teammate at that same race.
10. Kirstie Ramsey (So.) Kewanee (Wethersfield) [Coop]: Ahh... now we are getting into sub-18:00 minute territory. She is the eighth best returner at 17:57. Ramsey translated her freshman success over to the track with 11:39/5:26 credentials. She is definitely worthy of finishing in the top 10 this season.
11. Arielle Summitt (Fr.) Urbana (University): Now this may seem like a wild and biased pick at first, having only finished in 5th place in the IESA 1A with a 12:08 as an eighth grader. But hear me out! I raced at a local 5k (getting in shape for my laughable D3 cross country career). I made sure at the beginning of the race that I was ahead of all the girls, but there was this particularly tall one that paced it like a true champ and zipped right ahead of me at mile 2 and didn’t look back. She ended up running 18:09, winning the overall female race. Little did I know that this local female wonder that my folks and I were talking about is ONLY an incoming freshman. And to add to that, it turns out she ran 5:18/2:20 1600/800 double at IESA 8A state, not only winning both events but breaking Annamarie Michael’s 800 record set last year. Speaking of Michael, I am sure she will be glad to have Summit as a teammate as she will move up into her freshman year at Uni. Whether she will be a cross country superstar in addition to a track one it remains to be seen, and right now I am being rather conservative not putting her in the top ten.
12. Lauren Evelti (Jr.) Decatur (St. Teresa): Somebody has to rack up low points for the Bulldogs. And why wouldn’t that step-up runner be her? Although she may seem far back as the 17th lowest returner, she’s had experience going in the low 18’s before.
13. Ryan Block (So.) Knoxville: An emerging sophomore to be aware of as she is the 10th best returner running 18:03. Her track times 5:28/11:54 show promise of another good season.
14. Nicole Beebe (Jr.) Canton: No track results, but...she’s the 11th best returner at Detweiller with an 18:05.
15. Kara Martin Herrin (H.S.) (Jr.): The team leader of the Tigers is the young woman that comes in at the 13th returner from a season ago. Ranked particularly high because of strong 1600 and 800 races bodes well for a solid cross country season.
16. Bree Tschosik (Sr.) Decatur (St. Teresa): Not only is she the 17th best returner with an 18:42, but she is ready to step up as a team leader of the Bulldogs, running 11:39/5:29 on the track.
17. Savannah Day (Fr.) Tolono (Unity): She will be a nice addition for the Rockets this year- so much so that we speculate that she will emerge to be Unity’s number one runner as early as this season. She ran a 12:01 3200 time for IESA 2A state, finishing 11th overall. Furthermore, we can see that she has solid leg speed through her 2:28/1:04 double at IESA 8AA state.
18. Maura Farrell Herrin (H.S.) (So.): 14th best returner with an 18:31, plus a nice showing in the 2A track finals with an 11:46 3200. Expect her to run right beside her teammate Kara Martin.
19. Abby Jones (So.) Woodstock (Marian): The 18th best returner with an 18:41; ran 11:36 on the track and another sophomore to keep an eye on as she develops.
20. Isabella Wolke (So.) Arlington Heights (Christian Academy): She ran an 18:48 at Detweiller, but even more impressive was the conclusion of her 2014 outdoor track season running 11:38 to conclude that season for an 11th place finish. This establishes this young sophomore as a solid all-state candidate this season.
21. Katie Kleinert Clifton Central (Fr.): This incoming freshman finished 4th place in 1A IESA state. If transition into three miles is ordinary for a girl of her talent, she should crack in for an all-state mark, even in a potentially strong year like this.
22. Megan Grady (So.) Amboy [Coop]: Yet another solid upcoming sophomore. 16th best returner with an 18:40, and ran 11:45 on the track.
23. Jillian Monier (Sr.) Henry (H.-Senachwine) [Coop]: Ran an 18:46 at Detweiller and an 11:46 at the 1A state finals this spring.
24. Jordan Peterson (Jr.) Harvard: 15th best returner with an 18:37. No known track times but she will undoubtedly be back.
25. Taylor Renfroe (Sr.) Tolono (Unity): The 20th Detweiller returner with an 18:45. Also ran a 5:24 in track.
