Yeah, there are other runners that have better resumes. Still, Colleen Quigley is very impressive, especially since she was injured for large amounts of time heading into the past couple years. If she can stay healthy, She could challenge anyone. Out of all the American Steeplers, she has the most impressive mile time, she just has to stay healthy.
What sets her apart, and is why the young kids love her, is that she is very personable. She is genuinely a nice person. I've talked to her at a couple of races and saw how she interacted with people. She doesn't just blindly sign autographs like many of the other pros, she actually spends time chatting and even jogging with the kids. It's no wonder they like her.