By Michael Newman, ILXCTF.com Editor

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Congratulations to Jaimie Robinson of Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor as the 2017 ILXCTF.com Illinois Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

It was an extremely tough choice considering how many quality female athletes were in this state this high school season. Robinson went undefeated in the horizontal jumps wining state championships in both the Long and Triple Jump. She also earned a state championship on the track winning the 200 Meter Dash. The future student/athlete at the University of Alabama also finished fourth in the 100 Meter Dash. She only lost twice during the season in those four events. It was one of the most memorable overall seasons that we have seen from an Illinois high school female athlete.

Robinson also jumped 44-4 in the Triple Jump setting a new all-time Illinois best at an AAU Meet in June. She also won the US Junior Nationals title in the Triple Jump earning her a chance to represent the United States at the Pan-Am Junior Championships in July.

Athletes that were also considered included:

Kathleen Young of Warrensburg-Latham High School. The future University of South Carolina student/athlete won the Shot Put and the Discus at the state meet for the fourth straight season. She earned All-American honors in the Shot Put by finishing second at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Her 53-5 personal best at the Iron Wood Throws Classic is the best ever for an Illinois High school female athlete.

Jelena Rowe of Bloom Township High School. Rowe set all-time Illinois bests in the High Jump both indoors and outdoors clearing 6-1 both times. She finished second at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals but came back to win at the USATF Junior National Championships. She will represent the United States at the Pan-Am Junior Nationals in Peru.

Anna Sophia Keller of St. Anthony High School. The future student athlete at Notre Dame University won her 10^th and 11^th state championships in winning the 3200 and 1600 Meter Run at the IHSA 1A Girls State Meet. It was the third straight school year that Keller has completed the Distance Triple in winning the Cross Country title in the fall as well as the 3200 and 1600 Meter Run in the spring.

Katelynne Hart of Glenbard West High School. The freshman went undefeated during her first year of high school track running in the three distance events including state wins at 3200 and 1600 Meters. She was ranked in the top ten nationally in those two events.