Isabella Keller (in red) closes in on the finish line at the Nike XC Town Twilight Invitational earlier this season
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One of the hardest things to do is follow in a sibling's footsteps, especially one that was ultra-successful.
In the case of the diminutive Isabella Keller, she was born into a family filled with talent that turned into success. Both of her parents were standout athletes as teenagers. Mainly, her father, Chuck Keller, was among the most talented young distance runners from the Effingham area in 1978. "I ran the mile in 4:29 as a freshman, but unfortunately, the coach quit, and I didn't have the same passion for it," said Mr. Keller.
However, Chuck Keller's passion for excellence in the classroom and athletic field extended to his children. For the sport of running, it was Anna Sophia who burst on the IHSA scene as a freshman and won the first of four straight Class A state titles. That first year was 2013, and ASK blazed a state-leading 16:35.
"Wea," as her family and little sister call her, has been a larger-than-life figure. ASK still has the family's personal bests for now, but that could change after this weekend. Her personal best is 16:21, and we all will be watching the scoreboard closely.
Everything is full circle back to Isabella, who was essentially a child when her big sister was starring for St. Anthony High School. Now, as a freshman, it's her time, and she has excelled in every facet. As the state's #1 Premium 25 runner, Keller has just one loss on the season (3rd at Nike XC Town Twilight Invite) but is undefeated on Illinois soil and has yet to lose to a runner from this state.
Among the exploits this season was a record-breaking performance at the St. Joe-Odgen Spartan Classic road race in a blistering 15:58. Although it was not a traditional cross country race, it put Keller in a league of her own. Her personal best so far is 16:51, and with the state championship on the horizon, she has one more opportunity to improve it before moving up to the 5000m during the postseason. We will watch intently for Keller's imprint on the state scene!