A member of the Adel-Desoto-Minburn Tigers girl’s track team has chosen to continue running at Iowa’s iconic collegiate track and field institution next year. Keaton Kester is a two-time state champion in the 100 and 200-meter dash, winning the Class 2A events in 2015 with Earlham Community Schools and claimed gold the Class 3A events last year after transferring to ADM. The Raccoon Valley Radio Network spoke to Kester during preseason practice about her previous seasons and her plans for life after graduation. She shared with us that she’s attending Drake University in the fall to study pharmaceutical sciences and run track for the Lady Bulldogs. Kester says it’s an honor to join Drake’s Women’s Track and Field program. “The coaches are super knowledgeable, they’re super friendly people,” Kester said, “(The) team seems very good, well disciplined. It just seems like an overall good environment to thrive and reach your peak performance.”

Kester hopes to be one of the high school students who qualify for the 2018 Drake Relays’ 100-meter dash competition later this month. She currently is tied for the sixth best sprint time recorded in the state with Pella’s Emily Vos, clocking 12.54 seconds at the DCG Early Bird Meet on March 29. The top 24 times across Iowa clocked before midnight on Friday, April 20 will qualify to run at the Blue Oval. Weather permitting, Kester and ADM girls track team will stay in Dallas County tomorrow to compete in the annual Waukee Relays. First events begin at 4:30 p.m. from Waukee High School.