Photo by Jeff Yoder | Liberty state track photo gallery

Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – Ashlyn Keeney made Liberty High history as an individual in her state meet debut on Thursday.

Keeney was at it again Friday only this time she had some company.

The freshman standout helped Liberty High to the first medal-winning relay performance in program history anchoring the Lightning distance medley team to a runner-up finish.

Keeney ran a 2:10 split on the 800-meter anchor as Liberty High finished runner-up to Cedar Falls in 4:03.26, the 12th fastest time in state history.

“You get to share it with everyone and when you do well it’s not just you feeling proud of yourself its everyone feeling proud of each other,” Keeney said. “That’s a great feeling.”

On Thursday Keeney became the first state champion in school history by winning the 3,000.

She helped her teammates get in on the action on Friday.

Liberty High was sixth when Keeney took the baton from sophomore Devon Dunson and steadily moved up to second.

Cedar Falls won the title in a state record time of 4:00.19, the third fastest in state history, behind a strong anchor carry from junior Drake Relays 800 meter champ Mackenzie Michael.

“I just tried to move up as much as I could,” Keeney said. “The plan had been to go for first if I could but she was so far ahead. I tried to get her but she’s fast. I just wanted to try to move up.”

Sophomore Chaise Lange and junior Taylor Cannon ran strong 200-meter legs to put Liberty High in contention.

Dunson, who was 15th in the 400 on Thursday, handled the 400-meter leg and had Liberty High in striking distance for Keeney entering the final 800.

“We did the best we could do and I am proud,” Dunson said. “I am proud to be part of such a great team this year.”

Liberty High entered with the second fastest time in 4A this season but took more than nine seconds off its previous season best time in its runner-up finish on Friday.

“It means so much,” Lange said. “Two years ago we weren’t even a school so it’s kind of crazy going to 4A our first year to get second.”

The runner-up finish in the distance medley pushed Liberty High to seventh in the 4A team standings with 19 points in its first season in Class 4A.

Liberty High has chances to add to its point total on Saturday.

Keeney owns top-two season times in the 1,500 and the 800 and Cannon advanced to the finals of the 110 hurdles with the third fastest time from the prelims.

Class 4A

Team scores – 1. Waukee 55.33; 2. Southeast Polk 35; 3. Cedar Falls 32; 4. Ames 22; 5. Ottumwa 21; 5. Pleasant Valley 21; 7. Linn-Mar 19; 7. Liberty High 19; 9. Council Bluffs 16; 10. City High 15

Individual results (Event winner; area qualifiers)

400 hurdles – 1. Caroline Schaeckenbach (City High) 1:03.37; 5. Amy Liao (West High) 1:08.01; 7. Kiara Malloy-Salgado (West High) 1:08.1; 12. Lillian Reynolds (City High) 1:09.58; 22. Isabelle Woody (Liberty High) 1:11.7

4×200 – 1. Waukee 1:41.0; 12. City High (Emma Cooper, Ayana Lindsey, Emma Clark, Mia DePrenger) 1:45.06; 19. West High (Amy Liao, Katie Severt, Mia Dillingham, Matayia Tellis) 1:47.02

Distance medley relay – 1. Cedar Falls 4:00.19; 2. Liberty High (Chaise Lange, Taylor Cannon, Devon Dunson, Ashlyn Keeney) 4:03.26; 4. City High (Emma Cooper, Emma Clark, Ayana Lindsey, CeCe Kelly-Harvey) 4:07.85

Shot put – 1. Kat Moody (Waukee) 46-4 ¾; 4. Salima Omari (West High) 39-10 ½; 15. Arionnah Sonii (West High) 35-9

Long jump – 1. Darby Thomas (Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln) 18-11; 15. Ella Cook (City High) 16-1; 23. Te’Nia Ansley (City High) 15-5 ¼

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