Anna Sophia Keller and Daly Galloway finished 1-2 in last fall's cross country final (Beth Scheid photo)
You can say whatever you want about Class A distance running in terms of quality, depth, and excitement. It may very well be true that big classification will garner most of the attention in the headlines. However, over the past two seasons two runners have stood tall above the masses. Anna Sophia Keller (Jr., Effingham St. Anthony) and Daly Galloway (Jr., Gardner- South Wilmington) are elite runners who have battled without fear or provocation. They will again stand head and shoulders above anyone in Class A this season.
Top 50 Returning distance runners by event
3200m-
2015 State Champion: Anna Sophia Keller 10:42.93
Key returners: Anna Sophia Keller, Daly Galloway, Adrienne Brauer (Sr., Petersburg-PORTA), Maria Brauer (Sr., Petersburg-PORTA), Annemarie Michael (Jr., Urbana University), Keri Burmester (Sr., Red Bud), Isabelle Wolke (Jr., Arlington Heights Christian Liberty Academy)
Season outlook: Anna Sophia is the defending champion who won the title with less than her best. Keller was nursing typical growing pains during her sophomore year with a sore hip. But as champions do, they step up and and Keller stepped up just before last spring's state run rocking a IL #3 10:36.25. Galloway ran tough too finishing second just four seconds at state in 10:46.97. Did Galloway close the gap on a so-called ailing Keller during the fall? No. If anything the gap appeared to swell as Keller indicated that her overall health is good and mentally she was ready for all challengers. She won her third consecutive harrier title by a wide margin. Galloway is a solid #2 and it will stay that way. The supporting cast will feature some new names and faces to the fold to fill graduated holes. Freshman Katelyn Robbins of Liberty lived up to the hype coming out of middle school as she placed sixth at cross country states. Kirstie Ramsey (Jr., Kewanee-Weathersfield), Katie Glew (Jr., Winnetka Northshore Country Day), and Shelby Siltman (Jr., Stanford Olympia) are introductory names to fall this spring. Other familiar faces to watch are teammates Arielle Summit and Annemarie Michael who returned well from injury last fall. The pair led their team to a second place finish in cross country.
-Last year's top 10-
| RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10:36.25 | 2017 | Tuscola Open1st | |
| 2 | 10:46.97 | 2017 | ||
| 3 | 11:00.40 | 2017 | ||
| 4 | 11:15.90 | 2015 | ||
| 5 | 11:30.53 | 2016 | ||
| 6 | 11:31.42 | 2016 | ||
| 7 | 11:32.53 | 2015 | ||
| 8 | 11:36.42 | 2015 | ||
| 9 | 11:36.83 | |||
| 10 | 11:41.55 | 2016 |
800m-
2015 State Champion: Cassie Mundekis (Midwest Central) 2:15.52
Key returners: Mundekis, Annemarie Michael (Jr., Urbana University), Mariah Brodie (Sr., Illini West), Audrey Harrod (Jr., Hinckley Big Rock), Emma Henderson (Jr.,Tuscola), Marguerita Hendrickson (So.,Champaign St. Thomas More), Ali Pankey (Sr., Pleasant Plains), Anna Sophia Keller (Jr., Effingham St. Anthony)
Season outlook: One of the classification's all-time greats Cassie Mundekis has graduated and moved to run and serve the country for the US Military Academy. The void will be hard to fill but the opportunities are there. State runner-up Audrey Harrod may have the upper hand with a good mix of speed and endurance. She should improve on her 2:19 personal best this season and fight for a state title. Mariah Brodie will be a tough foe if she concentrates on this event instead of carrying 4x8 and 4x4 relay chores. Anna Sophia Keller may run this event a few times this season but probably won't add to her event log in the state series. Keller has a personal best 2:17.73.
-Last year's top performers-
| RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2:13.79 | 2015 | ||
| 2 | 2:17.73 | 2017 | ||
| 3 | 2:19.26 | 2017 | ||
| 4 | 2:19.42 | 2016 | ||
| 5 | 2:20.94 | 2018 | ||
| 6 | 2:21.04 | 2017 | ||
| 7 | 2:22.01 | 2015 | ||
| 8 | 2:22.24 | 2016 | ||
| 9 | 2:22.57 | 2016 |
1600m-
2015 State Champion: Anna Sophia Keller 5:03.19
Key returners: Keller, Maria Brauer (Sr., Petersburg-PORTA), Annemarie Michael (Jr., Urbana University), Daly Galloway (Jr., Gardner South Wilmington), Chelsea Pawlak (Jr., Deer Creek), Adrienne Brauer (Sr., Petersburg-PORTA), Claudia Magnussen (Jr., Pana), Arielle Summit (So., Urbana University), Carly Garnett (Sr., Illini West)
Season outlook: Keller repeated as state champion over a surprising Maria Brauer. The fans were on their collective feet to watch Keller use every bit of determination and closing foot speed in stopping Brauer. Afterwards, a spent Keller acknowledged that she ran one of her toughest races to date as a high schooler. If Keller is back in 2014 form, she will be impossible to beat. Anna Sophia blazed 4:52.68 which rated #1 in the state. No one else in the classification has ever broken 5:00. Galloway could go under this season; she has a personal best of 5:01.90 and placed fourth at state. Michael could be a star here if she can stay healthy.
-Last year's Top 10-
| RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4:59.46 | 2017 | ||
| 2 | 5:01.90 | 2017 | ||
| 3 | 5:08.13 | 2015 | ||
| 4 | 5:08.20 | 2016 | ||
| 5 | 5:13.13 | 2016 | ||
| 6 | 5:14.32 | 2018 | ||
| 7 | 5:14.53 | 2017 | ||
| 8 | 5:19.67 | 2015 | ||
| 9 | 5:20.78 | 2015 | ||
| 10 | 5:20.99 | 2017 |