Senior Ivy Wiegand led the 20th-ranked Ankeny girls’ cross country team to a ninth-place finish in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Thursday. She placed 35th in the 5K race with a time of 21 minutes 34 seconds.
Wiegand placed 89th for the Hawkettes in last year’s Class 4A state meet. She was clocked in 20:14.
Here is some inside info on Wiegand:
What did you think of your race on Thursday?
I came into the race with low expectations and a mentality of simply finishing the race as it was very hot and humid. The majority of my team and I thought they were 100 percent going to cancel it, so having to actually run it that day felt unreal. It was one of the most challenging races I had to compete in this year, but I’m glad to say I finished it. Despite the circumstances, I am thankful for the opportunity to grow from this race.
Do you like that course, which I understand was a little more challenging this year?
I have always had a love/hate relationship with SEP. Even when it was the original course, it would take a lot of mental preparation as I knew the course is almost constant hills. This year’s modifications proved that even more true, which I didn’t know was possible. Having to run the same hills over and over again felt like a fatiguing pattern. The challenge of SEP’s course never fails to make it exciting to compete in despite the initial dread that comes with it.
With some of the top runners in Class 4A in the field, was the pace about what you expected it to be?
The pace of running with other 4A girls pushed me to compete and was about what I expected. In this particular race, the general pace felt different than other races I have competed at this year but that is likely due to the many varying factors that day.
What did you think of your team’s performance, considering that you weren’t at full strength?
Our coach always encourages us to do the best we can as individuals and to push ourselves, which I think showed in our results. I think my team did amazing on Thursday. Knowing how mentally and physically tasking running in those conditions are and still competing like how we did is amazing. Our times were slower, as was expected, but understanding we can compete like this when we are not at our full potential and place relatively well only shows the potential we have for future meets when we do have everyone.
I know that you sometimes run in a pack with some of your teammates. Did you try to do that on Thursday?
At the beginning of the race I ran in a pack. Our goal was to hit our first mile pace and have enough energy to not die out the rest of the race. Eventually, we all split up but having that initial start as a pack helped tremendously in setting the intentions I had for this race.
This was your first race in 12 days since the Heartland Classic on Sept. 20. Did the time off from racing allow you to do some hard training workouts?
Our coach did not waste that time we had in between these two competitions. We had several hard workouts that were definitely challenging to complete. I would try my hardest to remember that training like this on non-meet days has made upcoming races seem far less intimidating, but it was very difficult to remember at times.
Your team will compete in the Fort Dodge Invitational on Thursday at the Lakeside Golf Course, where the state meet will be held on Nov. 1. I know you’re already familiar with the course, but do you think you can benefit from seeing it again if you are able to qualify for state?
I think I could 100 percent benefit from it. My personal best is at Fort Dodge and it’s such a fast, well-maintained course and I always look forward to running it. There is definitely more drive when revisiting this course a second time at state, and I really hope that happens.
The Class 4A district sites have been announced (Council Bluffs Lincoln, Iowa City High, Johnston, Marshalltown and Pleasant Valley), but you don’t know yet where your team will be running on Oct. 22. Would you prefer to run at any of those sites over the others?
Most of the sites that are options for this year’s districts are completely unfamiliar to me except for Marshalltown and Johnston. Out of familiarity, I’m in favor of Marshalltown, especially since I’ve run it this year and feel more driven to improve on my performance. Many of my teammates have PR’d at this course in the past as well, and it’s always competitive.
Ankeny is seeking its sixth consecutive trip to the state meet. I know you don’t know what your district competition looks like yet, but are you confident that this team can make it back to Fort Dodge?
If we continue to stay locked in, I feel like we have what it takes to return to state. We have so much depth in our team, and everyone who I run with is so dedicated to this sport and hardworking. I feel like that can get us to Fort Dodge.
You made your state meet debut a year ago, when you helped the team to a third straight seventh-place finish. Do you have a lot of fond memories of that day, and what would it mean to you to finish your high school career with another state-meet appearance?
The whole experience of state is something that I am so grateful for. I’m so appreciative of being able to share that day with my teammates and celebrate all that we trained for. Every aspect of it really highlights why I choose to do this sport. I would love to get the opportunity again to see what I could achieve and make those same memories with my team one last time.
Plans for next year? Would you like to run in college?
Running has been a huge part of my life, but as I look ahead, my focus is shifting toward a career in the medical field. I plan to become a radiologic technician specializing in MRI. I’m looking at programs through either the University of Iowa or DMACC to pursue that path. At this point, I do not plan to run competitively in college. I’m excited to channel the same drive and dedication I have had for this sport into my education and future career.