2021 ILXCTF.com XC Season Awards - Girls Most Improved XC Runners of the Year

By Michael Newman [email protected]

The following runners were chosen as the 2021 ILXCTF.com Girls Most Improved Cross-Country Runners of the year. Three runners were chosen one each by classification.

Class 3A

Congratulations to Mia Pasha of Warren Township High School in Gurnee as the 2021 ILXCTF.com 3A Girls Most Improved XC Runner of the Year. Pasha and Katherine Klimek of York finished within a place of each other and were within a second of each other in the 3A State Meet. Pasha’s huge jump in improvement over the past year made her our choice.

Pasha finished her sophomore season last fall placing 22 at the Hoffman Estates Sectional and then finishing 68 at the ShaZam Club Championships. Her track season included qualifying for state in the 3200 Meter Run with a 11:39.55 best. Pasha made a jump in a big way this fall finishing in the top five in her state series races. The junior ran 16:50.9 to finish sixth in the Class 3A State race.

Klimek had a strong freshman season in 2020 where she was the fifth runner on York’s team that won the ShaZam Club Championships. Her improvement included during the track season including running 10:55.77 for the 3200 Meter Run at the Lyons Sectional. Klimek just missed all-state honors finishing 10th in the Class 3A State Meet. The sophomore made a huge jump up on York’s State Championship team as the team’s top runner finishing seventh running 16:51.2.

Class 2A

Congratulations to Delaney Fitzgerald of University High School in Normal as the 2021 ILXCTF.com 2A Girls Most Improved XC Runner of the Year. Fitzgerald only ran on the Pioneers’ Cross-Country team her junior and senior seasons. Her inaugural campaign during the 2020 pandemic season included finishing 15th in the 1A Olympia Regional and then 16th at the 1A Elmwood Sectional.

Normal University moved up to Class 2A for the 2021 season. So did Fitzgerald’s performances. The senior finished second at the end of the year at the Central State Eight Conference Meet and the Galesburg Regional. Fitzgerald caught the attention of some by winning the Metamora Sectional. She earned all-state honors by finishing 18th in the Class 2A State Meet race running 17:50. Her best cross-country time in 2020 was only 19:49.

Also considered was Josephine Dziedzic of Payton Prep in Chicago. The junior earned all-state honors by finishing 17 in the 2A State Meet Race. She finished 32nd as a sophomore in 2020 at the ShaZam Club Championships. Hannah Meisner of Bethalto Civic Memorial was also considered in this category. The junior finished 19 last November in the Class 2A State Meet after finishing 67th at the ShaZam Club Championships as a sophomore.

Class 1A

Congratulations to Ava Knap of St. Joseph-Ogden High School as the 2021 ILXCTF.com 1A Girls Most Improved Runner of the Year. This senior was a clear choice in this category and was the only runner that was considered. Knap finished 71st as a sophomore in the IHSA 1A State Meet. She showed improvement in her junior season in 2020. With no state meet held, Knap finished 19 at the St. Teresa Sectional and then 36th at the ShaZam Club Championships.

Her senior year showed even more improvement as she became one of the top 1A runners in the state. Knap finished fourth at the St. Teresa Sectional. She followed that up earning all-state honors running her best race of the season finishing fifth in the Class 1A State Meet while running a personal best of 17:48.