There have been plenty of honors for Annawan-Wethersfield girls track athlete Kennady Anderson. She placed third in the 3,200-meter run in last year’s IHSA girls state track finals, and fourth in the 1,600 meters at that event.

This year, according to girls track coach Ann Heller, Kennady has finished at or near the top in every race she’s run. She competes in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs and is on the 4×400 relay team. She also starts on the Titans’ cross country team.

But her coach said an honor Kennady received last week is just as important as her victories on the track. At a track meet at Augustana College in Rock Island, IHSA track official Pat O’Brien presented Kennady the “Golden Baton Award” for sportsmanship.

O’Brien told Coach Heller at the meet that O’Brien had received the baton three years ago, with instructions to give it to an athlete who displayed great sportsmanship.

No athlete had “caught his eye” as deserving the award, Heller said, until last week. Heller said Kennady isn’t just focused on her own accomplishments, but supports everyone else on the track.

After a race, she remains at the finish line to encourage and congratulate all the runners. Not just her teammates, mind you, but everyone in the race. She yells words of encouragement, administers high-fives and congratulates everyone – even those who finish back at the end of the pack.

“She’s not just a good athlete, she’s a great role model,” Heller said.

O’Brien saw this and asked Coach Heller if he could meet Kennady after the track meet. There, he presented the Golden Baton to her.

Kennady is the daughter of Chad and Amber Anderson of rural Kewanee.