Columbus North’s Julia Kiesler leads the girls race during the Conference Indiana meet Saturday Oct. 17, 2022, at Ceraland in Columbus.
The Republic file photo
Julia Kiesler grew up in southern California, just outside of Los Angeles, before migrating east to Indiana nearly two years ago.
When it came time to pick a college, the Columbus North senior went with a place that was a lot like her old home. Kiesler committed recently to continue her cross-country and tack career at Boise State.
“It’s just a beautiful place,” Kiesler said. “There’s mountains right next to the campus, and it reminds me a lot of where I grew up. I just really like the West.”
Kiesler visited Boise State in early November. She also had considered Utah, Iowa State and Indiana University.
“I think it was just where I was happiest, and it made me the most excited,” Kiesler said. “I was picturing myself at the different places.”
Since moving to Indiana prior to her junior year, Kiesler is a two-time All-State cross-country runner. She helped lead the Bull Dogs to the state title in 2021, then finished fourth individually in the fall to lead them to a third-place team finish.
Last spring, Kiesler finished sixth in the 3,200 meters at the Girls Track State Finals.
“I think I really developed well here,” Kiesler said. “I think coach (Rick) Sluder helped me get where I am now.”
Kiesler wants to major in kinesiology at Boise State. She isn’t sure how she will fit into the Broncos’ plans for her freshman cross-country season this fall.
“I just want to do whatever I have to do for the team,” Kiesler said. “If that means I’m on varsity, that’s great, but if that means I’m just training and getting ready to be on varsity, that’s great, too.”
For now, Kiesler is hoping to put together the best track season she can. She will be competing in the 3,200 meters in Saturday’s Hoosier State Relays — the unofficial state indoor meet — at Indiana University, then will take on the outdoor season that begins April 4 at Bloomington South and concludes with the state meet the first weekend in June.
“I just really want to do my best and get as far as I can,” Kiesler said. “It would be great to place again, and to place even higher would be really cool.”
