By Michael Newman

DyeStat Illinois Editor

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Three great athletes were considered for this honor. We could only choose one.

Anna Sophia Keller (St. Anthony HS, Effingham) has been the dominant force in 1A Girls Distance running since she entered high school in the fall of 2013. She continued that trend last spring winning her seventh and eight state championship and clinching her second straight 1A Distance Triple Crown.

Kathleen Young (Warrensburg-Latham HS) was the most dominant athlete in the Girls weight events the past year. She had the top performances in the state this season regardless this season in the Shot Put and the Discus.

The athlete that had the most importance to any team in 1A this year was Jenny Kimbro. The senior led Salt Fork to the 1A state championship scoring 37 of her team’s 52 points. She dominated again in her specialty the Hurdles easily winning the 100 and 300 Hurdles. Kimbro, who will be attending the University of Iowa this fall, also won the Long Jump as well as finishing third in the 200 Meter Dash. She earned all-state honors in her high school career twelve times winning seven state championships.

We are proud to congratulate Jenny Kimbro of Salt Fork High School in Catlin as the 2016 DyeStat Illinois 1A Girls Athlete of the Year.