We have been blessed with some remarkable young ladies this season. They have sacrificed a great deal and worked very hard to see to it that this team would prevail despite the lack of respect given them early on in the season. The combination of youthful depth and seasoned experience proved to be a strong force all season.

When discussing such a talented, and hard working group of young ladies, it is difficult to select a most valuable member. The following member of this year’s track team established herself as irreplaceable asset early in her career and has maintained that status. Regardless the conditions at any given meet, the coaching staff and her teammates could count on her very best performance. Her accomplishments this year include Championship medal winning performances at the:

Galesburg Invitational

Rock Island Invitational

Champaign Central Invitational

Palatine Relays

Mid-State Six Conference Meet

IHSA Sectional Meet

PJSTAR Honor Roll Meet

IHSA State Meet

She has had a hand in re-writing the record books for Richwoods Women’s Track multiple times as well as holding the Peoria area record and solidified herself among the state’s best ever. She is already an established member of the Richwood’s High School Hall of Fame. She has most recently added a state championship and a full ride to Illinois State University to her accomplishments. While this young lady is, without question, a very gifted athlete she is also an exceptional person whose commitment to be the best has and will continue to guide her through life.

This years Kim Field award winner is an exceptional fit.

She has been a 3 year member of team. The road to where she is today could not have been filled with more obstacles. As a freshman, she did not complete the season. As a sophomore and junior, she struggled to improve in her events. As a senior, determined and focused, she began training and achieving at levels beyond her capabilities; accomplishing goals she had set for herself that ultimately became the difference between her team winning or losing.

She has earned the respect and admiration of her coaches, teammates and competitors. She is a remarkable individual who’s story I will share for years to come.

This years Adrienne Moos award winner has been a tremendous team leader. She has taken under her leadership a very gifted, very energetic, very young and at times apprehensive group of teammates and has turned them into a very really force for the years to come.

Her ability to lead by example, never complaining, (at least not outloud) made a lasting impact on this young group. She showed great patience and understanding as a rookie coach tried new relay line-ups and when the pressure was on and the team needed every ones best effort, she found a way to convey this to everyone with just the look in her eyes. I didn’t realize how great the accomplishment of winning conference was until I looked into this young lady’s eyes in Pekin that night.

What this sport has meant for her, what her teammates mean to her, what all the practices and hard work has meant for her doesn’t come close to the strength of character and life lessons she has gained from this experience and passed onto her teammates. She is indeed exceptional.