The sport of cross country, which Emaline Foster discovered in middle school, involves more than just getting together with friends and going for fun runs and walks.

Fortunately for Prairie Ridge and Foster, the sophomore convinced her dad to let her take a run at cross country, so to speak, which helped her find her path, so to speak.

Foster is the 2025 Northwest Herald Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, as voted by the sports staff with input from area coaches, after she capped her “rookie” season for Prairie Ridge’s Wolves by finishing second at the Class 2A state meet with a time of 16 minutes, 47.14 seconds at Detweiller Park in Peoria.

Jacob’s freshman Lennox Szymonik was also considered for the award.

After missing her entire freshman campaign because of a stress fracture

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