One of the state’s best distance runners has made her college plans.
Ankeny senior Drew Beason has verbally committed to join the South Dakota women’s cross country and track programs. She picked the Coyotes over Nebraska.
“I liked the team and the team culture at South Dakota,” said Beason. “I felt I would be more happy at South Dakota and just be able to enjoy the sport while having a coach who really cares to make me the best I can be!”
Beason is currently ranked ninth in Class 4A for the No. 10 Ankeny girls’ cross country team. She is a three-time state placewinner.
As a freshman in 2021, Beason placed 11th at the state meet to lead her team to a sixth-place finish. It was the Hawkettes’ highest finish since 1988.
Beason then led Ankeny to seventh-place finishes in 2022 and 2023. She placed 15th as a sophomore before finishing fifth last year in a time of 18 minutes 7 seconds.
Beason is also an eight-time state qualifier and a five-time state placewinner on the track. She helped Ankeny to a fifth-place finish in Class 4A as a sophomore in 2023, when she ran on the winning 4×800 relay that set a school record with a time of 9:17.69.
Last spring, Beason placed sixth in the 3,000 for the second straight year. She also took fifth in the 1,500 with a time of 4:39.60, which set a school record.
Beason is a seven-time Drake Relays qualifier as well. She placed fourth in the 3,000 and ran on the fifth-place 4×800 relay at the 2024 meet.