ILXCTF 2024 Individual Runners Season Previews: Class 1A Girls

By Michael Newman

 

In her first time at Detweiller Park, Isabella Keller of Effingham St. Anthony made magic in the Class 1A race winning her first state cross-country title. The Keller sisters are five for five at Detweiller Park.

 

Mia Kotler of Latin School pushed Keller most of the race before a final move relegated Kotler to second. Kotler only ran three races during the track season. Coach Dan Daly would not explain why. It was said that she had been training during the summer, which is good news. Her first race is scheduled to be at Hinsdale on September 7

 

Eleana Rybak of Father McGivney ruled Class 1A distance last spring helping her school winning the team title. She said that she felt like she was another level on the track. Rybak and Keller three times last spring with Rybak winning all three. We will see when they run against each other for three miles.

 

Molly Farrell of Marshall and Kate Foltz of Tuscola might seem they are overshadowed. The two juniors will be a challenge to whomever races them. Whoever makes it into the top 25 will find it tough. 20 Class 1A All-state runners are back.

 

Here is a look at some of the top runners that we will see this fall in Class 1A.

 

Class 1A Individual Runners

1 Isabella Keller – SO – Effingham (St. Anthony)

XC: 1-1A, 3-NXRMW, 8-NON. TF: 1-1A 3200, 2-1A 1600. Season Bests: 2:15.00, 4:51.77, 10:16.02

 

2 Elena Rybak – SR – Glen Carbon (Father McGivney)

XC: 6-1A, 35-1A (’22). TF: 1-1A 800, 1-1A 1600, 1-1A 4x8, 1-1A 4x4. 2-RL 800, 5-RL 1 Mile, 3-FOM 800, Season Bests: 59.14, 57.98si, 2:06.98, 4:47.40.

 

3 Molly Farrell – JR – Marshall

XC: 4-1A, 5-1A (’22). TF: 2-1A 3200, 3-1A 1600. Season Bests: 2:25.8, 4:57.77, 10:38.24.

 

4 Mia Kotler – SR – Chicago (Latin)

XC: 2-1A, 35, NXRMW, 30-FLMW; 4-2A (’22), 3-2A (’21). TF Season Bests: 4:57.77, 10:31.71.

 

5 Katie Foltz – JR – Tuscola

XC: 3-1A, 24-1A (’22). TF: 3-1A 3200, 13-1A 1600 pre. Season Bests: 2:29.86, 5:11.78, 10:55.92.

 

6 Tessa Bowers – JR – Shelbyville

XC: 5-1A, 26-1A (’22). TF: 4-1A 1600, 2-1A 4x8. Season Bests: 2:24.11, 2:23.37s, 5:04.21, 11:46.32.

 

7 Sydney Gertsen – JR – Lombard (Montini)

XC: 8-1A, 21-1A (’22).  TF: 5-2A 3200, 8-2A 3200 (’23). Season Bests: 2:26.11, 5:10.84, 11:15.93.

 

8 Jaydn Gerardi – SO – Anna (Jonesboro)

XC: 9-1A. TF: 17-1A 4x8 pre, 17-1A 800 pre. Season Bests: 12.64, 26.09, 58.80, 2:19.03, 5:27.75.

 

9 Kyla Babb – JR – Westmont

XC: 12-1A. TF: 4-1A 3200, 10-1A 1600. Season Bests: 2:26.85i, 2:25.2s, 5:08.89, 11:04.78.

 

10 Mackenzie Pound – JR – Tolono (Unity)

XC: 10-1A, 11-1A (’22). Missed Track Season due to injury in Basketball.

 

11 Ellen Anderson – SR – Chicago (Latin)

XC: 19-1A. TF: 11-2A 3200. Season Bests: 5:34.05, 11:31.23.

 

12 Emily Downing – JR – Cambridge

XC: 13-1A, 13-1A (’22). TF: 3-1A 4x8, 5-1A 800, 8-1A 1600. Season Bests: 2:18.29, 2:16.57s, 5:09.56, 11:39.57.

 

13 CeCe Hilby – JR – Aurora (Central Catholic)

XC: 16-1A. TF: 5-2A 800. Season Bests: 1:01.31, 2:15.96, 5:34.30

 

14 Madeleine Fox – SO – Marshall

XC: 17-1A. TF: 9-1A 3200, 11-1A 1600. Season Bests: 2:19.63, 5:11.61, 11:35.4.

 

15 Louisa Wilson – SR – Williamsville

XC: 18-1A, 3-1A (’22), 3-1A (’21). TF: 6-2A 3200, 10-2A 1600. Season Bests: 2:29.13, 5:13.99, 11:14.04i.

 

16 Meika Bender – SR – Eureka

XC: 20-1A, 50-1A (’23). TF: 7-2A 1600, 13-2A 4x8 pre. Season Bests: 2:22.15s, 5:10.29, 11:38.16.

 

17 Aubrey Denning – SO – Effingham (St. Anthony)

XC: 35-1A. TF: 3-1A 800, 9-1A 1600. 18-1A 4x4 pre. Season Bests: 1:00.87, 2:12.90, 5:11.07.

 

18 Dusti Smith – SO – Toulon (Starck County)

XC: 22-1A. TF: 7-1A 4x8, 11-1A 4x4, 13-1A 400 pre. Season Bests: 1:00.31, 2:19.86s, 5:28.72.

 

19 Miah Gilmore – SR – Murphysboro

XC: 24-1A, 10-1A (’22), 35-1A (’21).  TF: 10-2A 3200. Season Bests: 2:24.20, 5:25.60, 11:28.92.

 

20 Vanessa Teel – SR – Pinckneyville

XC: 23-1A, 23-1A (’22), 53-1A (’21). TF Season Bests: 1:03.25, 2:29.59.

 

Other 1A Girls Runners to Watch

Graziella Narcisi – SR – Elmhurst (IC Catholic Prep)

XC: 25-1A, 47-1A (’22), 15-1A (’21). Plays Basketball in winter for school.

 

Alyssa Higgins – JR – Knoxville

XC: 26-1A. TF: 10-1A 3200, 16-1A 1600 pre. Season Bests: 2:32.76, 5:25.18, 11:39.57.

 

Evelyn O’Connor – SR – Seneca

XC: 27-1A, 12-1A (’22), 44-1A (’21). TF: 6-1A 4x8, 5-1A 1600, 20-1A 4x4 pre. Season Bests: 1:00.7s, 2:20.30, 2:19.15s, 5:10.77, 11:33.39.

 

Emily King – JR – Knoxville

XC: 36-1A, 70-1A (’22). TF: 9-1A 4x8. Season Bests: 2:30.02, 56.29 LH.

 

Ashlynn Lindt – JR – Lombard (Montini)

XC: 37-1A, 72-1A (’22). TF: 8-2A 3200. Season Bests: 2:28.87, 5:20.27, 11:15.76.

 

Emily Decker – SR – Tolono (Unity)

XC: 30-1A, 19-1A (’22). TF: 23-2A 1600, 3-2A 4x8. Season Bests: 2:22.50, 2:19.81s, 5:20.00

 

Joelle Wilson – SO – Williamsville

XC: 40-1A. TF: 11-2A 800. Season Bests: 2:19.41, 5:37.20.

 

Caroline Wettstein – JR – El Paso-Gridley

XC: 32-1A, 51-1A (’22). TF: 8-1A 4x8. 22-1A 1600 pre. Season Bests: 2:28.25, 2:26.62s, 5:30.42, 12:11.21.

 

Aleah Box – JR – Anna (Jonesboro)

XC: 34-1A. TF: 14-2A 3200, 17-2A 4x8 pre. Season Bests: 2:35.54, 2:34.82s, 5:30.86. 11:31.66.

 

Bre Lehman – SO – Eureka

XC: 38-1A. TF Seasonal Bests: 1:01.8si, 2:24.9s, 46.89LH, 11-2.5 PV.

 

Savannah Franzen – SR – St. Joseph-Ogden

XC: 42-1A, 14-1A (’22), 6-1A (’21). TF: 18-2A 1600 pre. Season Bests: 2:24.04i, 5:17.92, 11:57.21.

 

Sara Link – SO – Erie-Prophetstown

XC: 59-1A. TF: 21-1A 800 pre, Season Bests: 2:27.52.

 

Jana Vande Kemp – SO – Cambridge

XC: 33-1A. TF: 3-1A 4x8, 18-1A 800 pre, 26-1A 1600 pre. Season Bests: 2:24.66, 2:19.81s, 5:24.11, 12:45.15i.

 

Annabelle LaFary – JR – Delavan

XC: 45-1A, 58-1A (’22). TF: 12-1A 3200, 18-1A 4x8 pre. Season Bests: 2:26.09i, 5:30.21, 11:29.99.

 

Caroline Tepe – JR – Okawville

XC: 80-1A, 20-1A (’22). TF: 8-1A 800, 8-1A 4x4. Season Bests: 1:03.84. 2:19.35.

 

Morgan Capriola – JR – Winnebago

XC: 43-1A, 129-1A (’22). TF: 7-1A 4x4. Season Best: 1:03.00, 2:34.39.

 

Meghan Zopel – SR – Peoria Notre Dame

XC: 44-1A. TF: 15-2A 4x8 pre, 17-2A 1600 pre. Season Bests: 2:44.1i, 2:25.07s, 5:18.65, 11:50.8.

 

Hannah Nation – SR – Williamsville

XC: 72-1A. TF Season Bests: 2:38.82i, 5:39.43, 12:12.04i.

 

Emma Swartzendruber – SR – Stanford (Olympia)

XC: 54-1A, 88-1A (’22). TF: 25-2A 4x8 pre, 21-2A 4x4 pre. Season Bests: 2:23.27, 5:37.00.

 

Breigh Desmond – SO – Belleville (Althoff Catholic)

XC: 67-1A. TF: 11-1A 3200, 14-1A 1600 pre. Season Bests: 2:29.36, 5:15.72, 11:53.53.