By Michael Newman

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Congratulations to Anna Sophia Keller of St. Anthony High School in Effingham, Illinois as the DyeStat Illinois 2016 Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Keller ended her storied cross country career in Illinois winning her fourth straight cross country 1A state championship despite running under the weather along with a hip injury. Two days after her state race, she was undecided if she would run in the Nike Cross Midwest Regional race the following Sunday in Terre Haute, Indiana. She did compete finishing fourth overall qualifying for the Nike Cross Nationals. She did not train following that race for the next two weeks allowing herself healthy for the race in Portland. With minimal training, she earned All-American honors finishing 15^th in the Nike Cross Nationals. She will go down as one of the greatest Illinois High School Cross Country runners ever to compete in this state.

Katelynne Hart (Glenbard West HS, Glen Ellyn) was the other runner that was considered. After finishing 3^rd in her first race of the season in Hinsdale, she went undefeated the rest of the way winning the IHSA 3A State title and following that up 6 days later winning the Nike Cross Midwest Regional Championship. She earned All-American honors by finishing 18^th at the Nike Cross Nationals. Just a reminder: she is only a freshman. We are looking forward to see her racing on the track and course the next 3 ½ years.

Lindsey Payne (Glenbard West HS, Glen Ellyn) and Jenna Lutzow (Belvidere North HS) were other student/athletes that were considered for this award.