Josephine Welin (Jr., Oak Park-Forest)
-A limited summer slate of competition last summer was enough to put Welin's name on the radar as she ran 10:25.35 and 4:53.36 respectively for 3200m and 1600m. But during the cross country season is where she tore it up. Welin came on to smash nearly every girl directly or via collateral damage style throughout the season. The final result was an all-class best 5k winner (17:25) at the Shazam XC Championship.
A later bloomer during the '21 indoor campaign, Welin came on to earn two All-American honors at adidas indoor nationals (mile/two-mile). The times logged in were US#8 4:50.79 and US#5 10:17.67. She also ran a US#11 1k in 2:54.41. Welin will no doubt have a lot to say with her feet regarding the climate of Illinois distance running this spring and summer.