Isabella Keller Wins State C.C. Meet, Area Finishers Do Well

Isabella Keller won the Class 1A State individual championship with a time of 16:26.13.

PEORIA -- Effingham St. Anthony High School's Isabella Keller captured the individual championship of the Class 1A State Cross Country Meet Saturday at Detweiller Park.

Keller finished first with a time of 16:26.13. She was followed in the top five by Mia Kotler (Chicago Latin), 16:32.80; Kate Foltz (Tuscola), 16:45.63; Molly Farrell (Marshall), 16:57.63 and Tessa  Bowers (Shelbyville), 17:09.15.

St. Anthony competed as a team and finished 14th out of 30 teams with 402 points. Tolono Unity won the team title with 109 points.

Also finishing for the Bulldogs were Aubrey Denning, 35th in 18:30.23, Stacie Vonderheide 81st in 19:17.14, Emma Helmink 171st in 21:04.15, Grace Niebrugge 249th in 24:28.17 and Ava Faber 250th in 24:44.99.

Also competing in the Class 1A State meet on the boys side was Cameron Roedl of Cumberland. Roedl finished 58th in 15:54.36 out of 256 runners.

In the Class 2A State Meet, Effingham, competing for the first time in school history at the state cross country meet, finished 22nd as a team with 567 points. There were 29 teams entered and 242 runners competing.

Jessica Larsen finished 76th with a time of 18:48.67. Also competing for the Hearts were Baylee Summers 85th in 18:54.01, Drew Weis 158th in 19:59.87, Audrey Wagoner 196th in 20:49.93, Kyra Hazelton 203rd in 20:57.50, Haddie Hill 208th in 21:03.57 and Morgan Springer 209th in 21:05.17.

Effingham St. Anthony finished 14th out of 30 teams at the Class 1A State Meet. Left to right are, Ava Faber, Stacie Vonderheide, Grace Niebrugge, Emma Helmink, Aubrey Denning and Isabella Keller.

Picking up cross country awards for the St. Anthony boys and girls teams are, front row, left to right, Grace Niebrugge, Ava Faber, Stacie Vonderheide Bulldog Award, Aubrey Denning Hustle Award, Isabella Keller Most Valuable Runner and Emma Helmink Most Improved. Back row, left to right, James Emmerich Bulldog Award, Danial Ramos, Aidan Braunecker, Oliver Kreke Hustle Award, Julius Ramos Most Valuable Runner, Elliot Frisbee, Noah Flaig Most Improved and Calvin Sudkamp.