“Ninth grader Isabella Keller appears to be the future of girls cross country in Illinois. The St. Anthony High phenom made quite the statement last fall, winning eight of the 11 meets she entered capped by her breakthrough performance at the NXN Final. She proved that she’s the nation’s top freshmen and she ranks among the top distance talents regardless of class.”

Rich Gonzalez

Head Coach - PrepCalTrack Coach

Athletic Excellence

The 4-foot-8 freshman won her first Class 1A state crown this past season with a time of 16:26.2 to complete an unbeaten 2023 campaign on three-mile courses. Keller’s state meet victory was the fastest all-class time of the day. She followed with breakout performances at the Nike Cross Nationals Midwest Regional, where she took third, and the NXN Final, where she finished eighth in 17:43.4 to earn Second Team All-America honors. She also broke five course records last fall, all of them previously held by her sister, Anna Sophia Keller, a two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year winner.

Academic Achievement

Keller has maintained a 4.00 GPA in the classroom. She will begin her sophomore year of high school this fall.

Exemplary Character

A member of the Spanish Club at her school, Keller has volunteered locally as a lector at her parish—the Sacred Heart Church—as well as for the Effingham Humane Society in addition to teaching youth swimming lessons.