Columbus North’s Julia Kiesler is The Republic Girls Track Athlete of the Year. She is pictured at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind., Friday, June 9, 2023.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Prior to her senior track season, Julia Kiesler was strong at the longer distances, but not great at the middle distance events.
But after finishing fourth in the state cross-country meet, Kiesler set a goal to make it on to Columbus North’s 4×800-meter relay team that was set to return three-fourths of a unit that had finished third and second at state the previous two years.
Not only did Kiesler land a spot on the Bull Dogs’ 4×800 relay team, she was a big key in helping it capture a state title. She came back later in the state meet to finish third in the 3,200 and is The Republic Girls Track Athlete of the Year.
“I was really proud of myself for earning that spot and getting to be on that team,” Kiesler said. “I knew I had to bring my 800 time down a little bit. We do strides after our easy runs, so I really tried to focus on my form on those and driving my arms and picking up my legs higher. It’s not really my strong suit, the short stuff, but I was able to work hard and earn my spot there.”
Kiesler, who ran the second leg on the 4×800 relay team, ran a 2-minute, 19-second split at state to bring North from seventh to second place.
“She jumped in where we needed her,” North coach Rick Sluder said. “Last year, she didn’t feel comfortable in the 4×800, and this year, she wanted to be in there. I heard from a lot of people at the state meet that Julia might have been the reason we won that. She had three good girls around her, but she was a big key to that.”
“Winning it was really awesome,” Kiesler added. “It was just something that I know (fellow seniors Lily Baker and Julie Klaus) have been working a long time for, and it’s really cool to be able to help them get to that goal, especially in our last year because it was our last time running together.”
In the 3,200, Kiesler set a school record earlier in the season and won sectional and regional titles. She broke her own school record when she finished third at state in 10:22.78.
“I went through the first mile almost at my mile PR time, so I knew it was going to be a good race after that because after I get through the first mile, it just finishes that way,” Kiesler said.
Columbus North’s Julia Kiesler is The Republic Girls Track Athlete of the Year. She is pictured at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind., Friday, June 9, 2023.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Kiesler moved to Columbus from southern California with her family following her sophomore year, which had been wiped out because of the COVID pandemic. Her father Frank had been a runner at Floyd Central, and Julia looked at that school, along with Carmel and Zionsville, before settling on North.
“I think the move here was probably the best thing for me in my running career,” Kiesler said. “I don’t think there’s anyone really better at high school coaching than coach Sluder, in my opinion. I was looking at other schools before we moved here, and I think if I’d chosen any of those other schools, I wouldn’t have progressed the same as I did here.”
As a junior, Kiesler finished 11th at state in cross-country and sixth in the 3,200 at the state track meet. She then placed fourth in this year’s state cross-country meet and was named Indiana Miss Cross-Country and The Republic Girls Cross-Country Runner of the Year.
Sluder isn’t surprised she has succeeded.
“She just led every day in practice,” Sluder said. “She ran hard every day when we asked her to, and she led by example. Not only was she fast state-wide, but she also cared about her team, and that was a big deal for us being successful.
“Along with Lily, they just trained really hard with the state meet always the focus,” he added. “She trained with a focus on really when it mattered the most. She ran her best at the state meet in cross-country. She ran her best in track when it counted, and that was from being confident all year.”
Following the state meet, Kiesler took a short break. She now is working on her training program for her college destination, Boise State.
“I’m just going to try to fill whatever spot they need me to fill as a freshman, whether that’s on varsity or not on varsity,” Kiesler said. “I’m not too worried about it. But eventually, I’d like to get on varsity for the big meets and the NCAA.”
Kiesler leaves for Boise State on Aug. 12.
“I’m excited to get back on mountains for running,” Kiesler said. “That’s really good training out there.”
Kiesler is happy with her two years at North, especially the way it ended.
“I think it was just a perfect senior season,” Kiesler said. “I did pretty much everything I really wanted to do. It was just a really good end to my career here.”
The Republic All-Area Girls Track and Field team:
Julia Kiesler, Columbus North: The senior ran on the state-champion 4×800 relay team and was Franklin sectional and regional champion and finished third at state in the 3,200.
Lily Baker, Columbus North: The senior ran on the state-champion 4×800 relay team, was Franklin Regional champion and finished fifth at state in the 1,600 and took second in the regional and 23rd at state in the 800.
Carys Glyn-Jones, Columbus North: The sophomore ran on the state-champion 4×800 relay team and finished third in the Franklin Regional and 14th at state in the 800.
Julie Klaus, Columbus North: The senior ran on the state-champion 4×800 relay team and finished fourth in the Franklin Regional and 18th at state in the 3,200.
Kyleigh Wolf, Columbus North: The sophomore finished fourth in the Franklin Regional in the 1,600 and ran on the 4×800 relay team for part of the season.
Moana Steele, Columbus North: The senior finished sixth in the Franklin Regional in the shot put.
Emma Gray, Columbus East: The senior finished fifth in the 300 hurdles and 10th in the 100 hurdles in the Franklin Regional.
Hadley Gradolf, Brown County: The senior finished fourth in the Bloomington North Regional in the 800.
Cheyeanna Leslie, Jennings County: The junior finished fifth in the Bloomington North Regional in the discus.
Honorable mention
Columbus East: Gabbie Meier, Taylor Scott, Megan Tracy. Columbus North: Sierra Newell, Marieme Niang, Lana Wisler. Jennings County: Halle Franks, Rachael Manning. Trinity Lutheran: Emalee Goss.
