Kleese leads young Demons into 2022

WASHINGTON — Last year, Washington’s Abby Kleese was the only member of the Washington girls’ track and field team to make the state meet. In 2022, she and her teammates hope to build on that mark.

Kleese, who qualified in the 800-meter in her freshman year last spring, is one of 20 underclassmen out of the 29 Demons on the roster. She says having a young team gives Washington the opportunity to work on improvement above everything.

“We’re just kind of doing our best and working with ourselves,” Kleese said. “We’re not expecting big, big things, but we’re definitely excited.”

The Demon sophomore burst onto the Southeast Conference scene last season. She was part of two relays that won conference titles, the 4X800 relay team and the distance medley. Of the five teammates who joined her on those squads, just one was a senior.

“We’ve definitely set aside some good goals,” Kleese said. “We want to make it to state with some of the relay teams, and hopefully break a few records.”

Kleese qualified for state with a second-place finish at the Class 3A qualifier in Mt. Pleasant, crossing the line in 2 minuets, 28.76 seconds. At state, she took 23rd place, in 2:40.67.

Her qualifying time was just over eight seconds more than the current school record, a mark she has her eye on.

“I’d like to make it back to state individually for sure, and I’d like to make Drake as well, but my big goal is to try and break the 800-meter record here at Washington,” she said.

Kleese says the young Demons look up to conference rivals Fairfield and Mt. Pleasant. She says seeing those older teams succeed give the Demons a steppingstone to look for in the future.

She also says she looks forward to competing with some of her friendly conference opponents, namely Fairfield’s Maddie Jones, who won the conference title in the 800 and finished less than two seconds behind Kleese in last year’s 800-meter qualifier.

“It was super nice to get to talk to her after the 800 last year,” Kleese said. “She’s super sweet. It’s nice to know the girls by first name, and get to know who you’re running against.”

The Demons will be back on the indoor tracks at Central College on Thursday, another chance to live and learn for one of the up-and-coming teams in Southeast Iowa.

“We’re just getting excited for improving ourselves,” Kleese said. “And seeing what our team can do.”