By Michael Newman

[email protected]

We are proud to announce that the 2014 DyeStat Illinois Girls XC Runner of the year is Maryjeanne Gilbert of Notre Dame High School in Peoria.

Gilbert was undefeated against Illinois runners during the IHSA season and the post-season. The junior started off the year with an impressive win at the Canton Invitational on September 6 by 103 seconds. Two weeks later at the Richard Spring Invitational at Detweiller Park, Gilbert stormed away from Lindsey Graham just after the mile and won the race in 16:30 and by 22 seconds ahead of Graham. Two weeks later, she was back on the Detweiller Park winning the Girls race by 24 seconds ahead of Fenwick’s Olivia Ryan.

A week before the state meet Gilbert ran a remarkable 16:09 to win the Metamora Invitational smashing the 2.94 mile course record by an amazing 36 seconds. She entered the state series as the big favorite to win. She did not disappoint.

It was another return to Detweiller Park two weeks later winning the Big 12 Conference Meet by 73 seconds again running 16:43. You won easily at the Galesburg Regional and the East Peoria Sectional. Her average margin of victory in those two races was an incredible 76 seconds. In the 2A State Meet on November 8, Maryjeanne was by herself after the half mile. She won the state title by 1 minute running 16:12. It was the second fastest time run ever by a girl in the IHSA State Meet.

She proved that she belong with the region’ top runners finishing third at the Foot Locker Midwest Regional. Two weeks later at the Foot Locker Nationals, she was under the weather but still earned All-American honors placing 12^th. The majority of the races Gilbert ran this season was by herself. She showed in those two post season races that she will be one of the top runners in the nation in 2015. I believe we have seen only the beginning of how fast that this Peoria junior can run.

Other runners that were considered were Lindsey Graham (Glenbard West HS, Glen Ellyn), Anna-Sophia Keller (St. Anthony HS, Effingham), Alexa Haff (Central HS, Hinsdale), and Lauren Van Vlierbergen (Jacobs HS, Algonquin).