‘I felt really good’: Kiene places 14th in her 2nd race, helps Ankeny finish 4th at SEP

Ankeny’s Ainsley Kiene competes in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Thursday. She placed 14th in a time of 20 minutes 18 seconds in just her second race of the season to help the Hawkettes to a fourth-place finish. Teammate Sophia Graber, who took 12th in 20:15, is partially shown at right. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)

Ainsley Kiene appears to be rounding into shape just in time for the Ankeny girls’ cross country team.

Competing in just her second race of the season, Kiene placed 14th in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Thursday. The junior posted a time of 20 minutes 18 seconds to help the ninth-ranked Hawkettes to a fourth-place finish in the 11-team field.

“We’re training really hard, and our coach (TJ Jumper) is pushing us,” said Kiene. “We’re excited to get to conference, to districts and all that.”

Kiene enjoyed a breakout season on the basketball court last winter, but then suffered a stress fracture right below her ankle over the summer. The injury forced her to wear a boot for eight weeks.

**Ankeny’s Drew Beason races to a fourth-place finish in Thursday’s race. She was clocked in 19:19. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)**

“I think it was just overuse from running a lot and (playing) basketball,” Kiene said. “I did PT and then had to slowly come back after I got the boot off.”

Kiene made her season debut in the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 20 at St. Paul, Minn. It did not go well.

“I didn’t finish the race because I blacked out,” she said. “I passed out.”

On Thursday, Kiene ran alongside teammate Sophia Graber for much of the 5K race. Graber took 12th in 20:15.

“I felt really good,” Kiene said. “Sophia pushed me so much. I just wanted to stay with her, and that’s what I did. Really, we just did it together.”

**Ankeny’s Ivy Wiegand and Reagan Prendergast run together during Thursday’s race. Prendergast went on to place 31st in a time of 21:11, while Wiegand finished 34th in 21:15. (Photo by Dan Holm)**

No. 2 Johnston won the meet with 45 points to defend its team title. No. 13 Dallas Center-Grimes was second with 75, while No. 8 Waukee Northwest posted a total of 93 to edge Ankeny by two points for third place.

Piper Messerly of Dallas Center-Grimes pulled away from teammate Maddy Stevens to win the race in a time of 18:47. Stevens was the runner-up in 19:09.

The Hawkettes were led by Drew Beason, who raced to a fourth-place finish. She was clocked in 19:19.

While Graber and Kiene ran together throughout the race, so did two other Ankeny duos. Reagan Prendergast and Ivy Wiegand ran side-by-side much of the way, and so did Ella Schulz and Vanessa Wise.

**Ankeny’s Ella Schulz and Vanessa Wise run side-by-side during Thursday’s race. Schulz went on to place 46th in a time of 21:49, while Wise finished 47th in 21:50. (Photo by Dan Holm)**

Prendergast placed 31st in a time of 21:11, Wiegand took 34th in 21:15, Schulz was 46th in 21:49, and Wise finished 47th in 21:50. Ankeny competed without varsity regulars Makenna Madetzke and Lauren Jackson, who were held out for training and rest.

The Ankeny boys’ team only competed in the junior varsity race. The Hawks placed fifth among 10 teams with 112 points.

Both Ankeny squads will compete in the Fort Dodge Invitational on Thursday.