It was another banner year for ninth graders, who reversed many cross-country courses throughout the state and region in 2023.
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2023 was an extraordinary year for many first-year harriers. There were 16 girls under the watershed 18:00 mark for three miles. The leader of the pack was Isabella Keller of Effingham St. Effingham.
Some knew of Keller before high school. Still, there was no way anyone could predict a banner season in which she was the top overall performer and eventually earned All-American honors at Nike Cross Nationals. She will be primed again as the one at the top of the charts when the season kicks off.
