The St. Anthony sophomore runs 7^th fastest time ever in state meet; Daly Galloway also under 17 minutes; 3 all-state runners pushes St. Joseph-Ogden to team state championship

By Michael Newman

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Peoria, Ill – The strong northwesterly winds were thought to slow down the first IHSA state championship race of the day at Detweiller Park Saturday morning. At the end of the race, it did not bother Anna Sophia Keller (St. Anthony HS, Effingham). The diminutive sophomore cut through the wind with no problem. She broke away from Daly Galloway (Gardner-Wilmington HS) in the triangle and went on to win her second state championship in a row. Her time of 16:27 ties her for seventh fastest time ever in the state meet. She also now holds the fastest time ever for a sophomore. Galloway was also under 17 minutes running her best race of the season clocking 16:52.

This race was not similar to last year’s race for the St. Anthony runner. Keller went through the first half mile in a quick 2:34. Galloway would not budge as she was only a second behind. The distance was the same at the mile as Keller passed the mile in 5:20 with Galloway only a couple steps back in 5:21.

Keller made her move after she entered the triangle. The wind in the race did not affect the runners in the main portion of the course. As they turned west in the north portion of the course is when the crisp wind made its mark.

Keller passed the 2 miles in 10:52. Her lead was up to 13 seconds on Galloway. Keller pounded the last mile last year similar to last year when she covered the last third of the race in 5:21. In this race, the wind started to take affect she ran 5:35 for that mile. She still lengthened the distance to 25 to Galloway as she crossed the line.

“I just wanted to feel good. I didn’t know what the time would be with the wind,” Keller said afterwards. “I wasn’t worried (about Galloway being with her at the mile). I just wanted to go on my pace and see how fast I could run.”

Keller’s season is not over. She will compete at the NXN Midwest Regional on November 16. Last year she was qualified as an individual national qualifier. If she finishes in the top five this year, she will make the trip to Portland.

St. Joseph-Ogden made their mark on the state scene at their own Spartan Classic at the end of September as they defeated then number #1 Urbana University and four time state champion Decatur St. Teresa. Wins the last three weeks heading into this state race boosted their confidence. It showed as they dominated the team race in winning with 86 points.

“Everybody ran well,” said St. Joe coach Jason Retz. “They were relaxed. They got out. They did what they needed to do. Everyone ran a season best or better today. It was awesome. It was just fun to watch.”

The feeling in the team area right after the area was shock turned into uncontrolled jubilation. Runners were hugging each other crying not believing what they had just done. The Spartans finished with 3 all-state runners. Freshman Faith Houston led the way placing 12^th (18:02). Abby Gawthorp was next placing 16^th (18:15). Abby Fisher was the third runner in placing 23^rd (18:24).

Hayley Grice (43^rd) and Keely Smith (53^rd) were the fourth and fifth runners for St. Joseph-Ogden. Their margin of victory was dominating. Urbana University finished second with 170 points while Kewanee-Wethersfield scored 189 points placing third. Petersburg PORTA was 3 points back in fourth. St. Joesph-Ogden placed six runners in before either the second or third place team had their third runner cross the line. That is how dominating their performance was.

Urbana University’s second place finish was paced with the upfront running like they had all season by Arielle Summitt and Annemarie Michael. Summitt finished third overall with teammate Michael ten seconds back in fifth.

Kewanee-Annawan Wethersfield rebounded from a slow start at the beginning of the year placing third and taking a trophy away from Detweiller Park. The key or the team was the 40^th place finish by Kaitlyn Cline. “She was on crutches all week because of a nagging ankle injury that she again re-aggravated at sectionals. She could barely walk all week. To keep her in shape we had in the pool aqua running all week. She is a fighter and just one tough girl, and she ended up with a 15 second PR running 18:52. Without that effort, we would have ended up running great and placing 5th or 6^th,” said Wethersfield coach Creston Fenn. “With about 1000 meters left, we were a 5th-6th place team. That last 1000 meters, I saw every girl dig deep and battle it out with the girls around them. As a team, we passed a lot of girls that last stretch. Those girls had a lot of heart and guts to finish the way they did. It was because of their stubbornness to just not give up that they were able to surprise a lot of people and hold up the first state trophy in our 7 year history of the cross country team. It is such a great feeling to see effort, desire, dreaming big, and guts turn into a trophy.”

Petersburg PORTA just missed a trophy but did have 3 all-state runners. Maria Brauer led the way with a 4^th place finish. Anna Tamborski finished a great season placing sixth. Adrienne Brauer was the third all-state runner placing 20^th. An injury to normal #4 runner Keely Miller hurt their trophy chances. On Saturday, she was their sixth runner finishing 176^th. Decatur St. Teresa ran a good race but the four time defending state champions finished fifth with 219 points.