Conway Paces Solon to Runner-up Finish at Home Invitational
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
SOLON – Through countless hours and miles and miles of training at the Solon Nature and Recreation Area Kiersten Conway had slowly developed a dislike of her home cross country course.
Or so she thought.
“I used to think I disliked the course because we practice on it all the time,” Conway explained. “I’ve actually grown a really big appreciation for it over the past year.”
Conway made her final regular season performance at her home course a memorable one on Monday.
An individual runner-up finish from Conway helped Class 3A seventh-ranked Solon to a second-place team finish in a field that featured five ranked teams.
Conway finished behind only Bettendorf junior Hannah Bientema as the Spartans finished with 53 points, one behind Class 4A ninth-ranked Bettendorf for the team title.
“I’ve been here for technically six years if you consider middle school, I’ve been running this course almost every day,” Conway said. “I’ve been prepared for this forever.”
All the training time at the Solon Nature and Recreation Area along with the pressure of competing at a home meet made the Solon Invite a challenge for Conway in the past.
An older and admittedly wiser runner now in her fourth season of varsity action Conway has grown to love the opportunity to compete at home.
In what could be her final trips around her home course Conway put on a show for friends and family finishing in a time of 19:55.6.
“I was looking forward to this more than any other race all year,” Conway said. “Home meet, senior year, I was so excited. All my friends and family were going to be here, my mom was able to be here today which is really special to me so it was really awesome.”
Conway was joined in the top 10 by sophomore Mary Fiala and junior Gracie Federspiel as Solon showed off its depth with all seven runners finishing in the top 20.
Solon finished 11 points clear of Class 2A second-ranked Williamsburg which was third with 64 points while 3A No. 9 Mount Vernon-Lisbon was fourth with 99 and 2A No. 13 Tipton was fifth with 106.
“We are going to go kick butt the rest of the season,” Conway said. “We are slowly progressing and becoming more solid and I’m excited.”
Fiala was eighth in a time of 20:44.7 and Federspiel placed 10th in 20:58.7.
“I felt like I ran pretty good,” Fiala said. “Usually at this meet I feel like I could do a little bit better because I set my standards high but this time I feel like I ran pretty well.”
Junior Emma Bock placed 16th for Solon in 21:17.8 while freshman Anna Quillin was 17th in 21:24.5 and junior Kaia Holtkamp was 18th in 21:36.
Junior Annika Kruse rounded out the Spartan finishers placing 20th in 21:56.3.
“We have so many good runners competing for spots and that’s a good thing,” Conway said. “Especially since underclassmen are really playing a big role on the team this year and I think that’s awesome.”
Solon Invitational
At Solon Nature and Recreation Area
Team Scores – 1. Bettendorf 52; 2. Solon 53; 3. Williamsburg 64; 4. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 99; 5. Tipton 106; 6. Davenport North 156; 7. Central DeWitt 209.
Individual leaders – 1. Hannah Bientema (BET) 19:28.1; 2. Kiersten Conway (SOL) 19:55.6; 3. Emily See (BET) 20:08.4; 4. Ruth Jennings (WIL) 20:10.3; 5. Sami Foht (BET) 20:10.6; 6. Kayla Overton (DN) 20:40.8; 7. Laura Swart (MV-L) 20:43.7; 8. Mary Fiala (SOL) 20:44.7; 9. Macey Marovets (WIL) 20:51.9; 10. Gracie Federspiel (SOL) 20:58.7
Solon (53) – 2. Kiersten Conway 19:55.6; 8. Mary Fiala 20:44.7; 10. Gracie Federspiel 20:58.7; 16. Emma Bock 21:17.8; 17. Anna Quillin 21:24.5; 18. Kaia Holtkamp 21:36.9; 20. Annika Kruse 21:56.3
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