Published on December 10, 2025 2:11 pm
Last Updated on December 10, 2025 2:11 pm
Isabella Keller heads towards the finish line at the NXN Nike Cross Nationals.
Isabella Keller, a junior at Effingham St. Anthony High School, competed in the NXN Nike Cross Nationals Saturday, December 6.
There are nine regionals. A runner has to qualify by getting in the top five to go to the Nationals.
Keller finished fourth out of 201 runners in the competition with a time of 17:15.0.
Winning was Nataqsza Dudek, a sophomore, in 16:50.1. She was followed by Blair Bartlett, a junior, in 16:51.7 in second and Jaelyn Williams, a senior, in 16:58.0 in third.
“Isabella got eighth her freshman year,” said her dad Charles Keller. “The field was loaded. She qualified at Terre Haute.”
Keller placed higher than any Illinois runner has and had the fastest time by an Illinois runner.
“She thought she might get in the top three maybe but there were so many good runners in the race. It was a pretty stacked meet and tougher this year. The girl who won the Illinois state championship in cross country, finished 13th.
“Isabella’s sister Anna Sophia finished fifth here as a senior.”
Isabella Keller strides along with a crowd of runners at the Nike Cross Nationals.