City High’s Wedemeyer Continues State Meet Climb, Earns First Career Medal
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
FORT DODGE – After qualifying for the state meet as a freshman Ani Wedemeyer took a step forward in her return to Fort Dodge last fall.
On Friday Wedemeyer went from a small step to a massing jump in her third appearance at the Class 4A state meet.
Wedemeyer secured the first state meet medal of her career on Friday with a 12th place finish at the 4A meet at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge.
A year after running a time of 19:38 in a 27th place finish Wedemeyer took more than a minute of her previous state-best time finishing in 18:21.6.
“I basically ran the same thing my freshman and sophomore years and this year I have completely changed my game,” Wedemeyer said. “I am happy with over a minute drop from last year and that is my second fastest time ever.”
Wedemeyer was 31st at the state meet as a freshman and moved up to 27th last season as a sophomore.
The big jump came on Friday as Wedemeyer used a strong finish over the final half mile to surge into the top-15.
“She is the epitome of an all-around great runner,” City High coach Ryan Ahlers said. “Whether it’s a 5K or an 800 or a 4×4 she is going hard and training hard.”
The top-15 finish helped City High to an eighth-place team finish one year after the Little Hawks finished 15th at the 4A state meet.
Johnston won the team title with 107 points, the third title in the past five seasons and first since 2020 for the Dragons.
West Des Moines Valley was runner-up with 122 points behind individual champion Addison Dorenkamp while Dallas Center-Grimes was third with 126 points.
City High finished eighth with 195 and was two points clear of Ankeny Centennial while Waukee was 10th with 204.
“I didn’t get all my goals but it was definitely better than years past and I am proud of what a step I have taken this season,” Wedemeyer said. “Overall, I am happy with it.”
Junior Nicole Peterson was the second City High finisher behind Wedemeyer placing 26th in a time of 18:56.9.
The 26th place finish for Peterson came after she was 94th at the state meet last season.
Sophomore Abigail Burns was 41st for City High in 19:16.7 and Nina Peterson was 61st in 19:42.
Freshman Grace Hamann finished 80th in 19:55.6.
“I was proud of our girls,” Ahlers said. “Abigial ran 21:04 here last year and she ran around 19:15 today, this year she has been really dedicated. Nicole and Nina Peterson dedicated themselves to being better with their training and they had the race of their lives today. Grace Hamann is just figuring out how good she can be in this sport.”
State Cross Country Meet
At Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge
Team scores – 1. Johnston 107; 2. West Des Moines Valley 122; 3. Dallas Center-Grimes 126; 4. Pleasant Valley 131; 5. Dubuque Senior 182; 6. Dubuque Hempstead 185; 7. Ankeny 186; 8. City High 195; 9. Ankeny Centennial 197; 10. Waukee 204; 11. Ames 215; 12. Indianola 266; 13. Waukee Northwest 292; 14. Cedar Falls 347; 15. West Des Moines Dowling 349
Individual leaders – 1. Addison Dorenkamp (West Des Moines Valley) 17:41.5; 2. Olivia Verde (Johnston) 17:50.7; 3. Keelee Leitzen (Dubuque Hempstead) 18:00.8; 4. Nakia Olivierre (Waterloo West) 18:01.9; 5. Drew Beason (Ankeny) 18:06.9; 6. Piper Messerly (Dallas Center-Grimes) 18:10.9; 7. Gracie Foster (Indianola) 18:17.1; 8. Claire Helmers (Ames) 18:17.8; 9. Anika Mohrhauser (Ankeny Centennial) 18:18.2; 10. Leah Klapatauskas (Dubuque Senior) 18:20.9; 11. Julia Gehl (Dubuque Hempstead) 18:21.1; 12. Ani Wedemeyer (City High) 18:21.6; 13. Camryn Sattler (Clinton) 18:22.3; 14. Michelle McConkey (Waukee) 18:34.9; 15. Klaire Lietz (West Des Moines Valley) 18:36.
City High (195) – 12. Ani Wedemeyer 18:21.6; 26. Nicole Peterson 18:56.9; 41. Abigail Burns 19:16.7; 61. Nina Peterson 19:42; 80. Grace Hamann 19:55.6; 109. Claire Locher 20:20.4; 115. Madeline Fischer 20:32.1
West High – 73. Susanna Olson 19:50.9; 100. Kate Van Waning 20:12; 127. Kalli Titus 21:10.6
Liberty High – 54. Cori Mac 19:29.2; 122. Mimi Marquardt 20:55.7; 125. Clara Welch 21:08.3; 128. Bridget Canton 21:22.5
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