RICHMOND, Va. - Linn-Mar High School freshman Stephanie Jenks placed second in the Junior Elite Female division Sunday morning at a major triathlon in Richmond, Va.

Jenks completed the 750 meter swim, 20 kilometer bike race and five kilometer run in 1 hour, 1 minute and 13 seconds.

The Junior Elite division is for athletes whose birthdays put them in the 16 to 19 age group. Jenks is listed as a 16-year-old.

Avery Evenson of Howell, Mich., whose listed age is 18, won the Junior Elite division in 1 hour and 44 seconds, beating Jenks by 29 seconds. Evenson trains at the Elite Triathlon Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Jenks graduated this year from the Youth Elite division to the Junior Elite division, where she'll be competing against girls who are several years older on a regular basis.

This was her first competition in the new division, where the distances of each race are twice as long as her previous division. There were 55 girls in her event Sunday.

"I'm excited," she said. "I was really, really happy. It's quite an experience."

Jenks won the Class 4A state cross country title last fall and captured the 3000 and 1500 meter runs at the Drake Relays last month. She caught several runners on the 5K leg of the triathlon Sunday to move into second place overall.

"I was really worried about the run. But after I came out of the water I was feeling great," she said.

Jenks said the swimming part of the competition was held in a lake, with the water temperature at about 65 degrees. She said the water was actually warmer than the air temperature in Richmond Sunday morning.

Members of "Team Jenks" drove from Iowa to Chicago, where they joined other triathletes and had a 13-hour bus ride to Virginia.

Jenks said she will not compete in the Mississippi Valley Conference track meet Monday, but said she plans to run in the state qualifying meet on Thursday.

Jenks will represent Team USA at the Pan American Triathlon Championships in Brazil in late June.