‘Grateful’ Meghan Wheatley is 3,000 runner-up in final state track and field meet

DES MOINES — Meghan Wheatley battled. That’s what the North Linn senior distance runner does. Every race. Every obstacle. Every moment she’s on the track for her last Class 1A girls’ state track and field meet at Drake Stadium.

“This is my first year running the 3,000,” Wheatley said after finishing second in the event in a personal best-shattering time of 10 minutes and 27.88 seconds. “So I didn’t have many times to beat, I guess, but this was about 26-ish seconds off my PR.”

Wheatley, who will run for Northern Iowa next season, has surmounted daunting challenges throughout her high school career — both on the track and off of it.

As a freshman, she was diagnosed with Avoidance Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Because of the severe gastrointestinal issues she faced, she didn’t feel hungry so she didn’t eat. Wheatley’s weight would eventually drop to 72 pounds, but friends, family and doctors aided in a slow and steady recovery that showcased her inner strength.

“Obviously, without my coaches, my parents especially, and the doctors and (former North Linn star) Ellen Reis — she’s helped me teach myself how to fuel properly so I can perform my best,” Wheatley said. “All of their support throughout the years has really — I can’t really express how grateful I am. And overcoming what I did my freshman year, it just makes this more special.”

Wheatley finished nearly 10 seconds behind the 3,000 winner, Lili Denton of Council Bluffs St. Albert, but kept pace with her until midway through the final lap.

“I just tried not to put any pressure on myself or expect anything,” she said. “I think that’s what allowed me to run. Just kind of let loose and do what I can.”

Other Gazette area medal winners in Class 1A on Thursday:

* Lanni Beaman of Maquoketa Valley finished sixth in the 400 meters in 59.07.

* Kennedy Axmear of English Valleys placed seventh in the shot put with a best throw of 36-06 1/2. Axmear, a senior, won the Bears’ first Drake Relays flag as a sophomore, winning the discus title.

* Andelyn Cabalka of East Buchanan took eighth in the long jump (16-03.50).

State track and field: Class 1A Girls

At Des Moines (Drake Stadium)

Top 10 teams (through 5 events) —1. tie, AGWSR, Fort Dodge St. Edmond, 14; 3. Pekin, 12; 4. tie, Wayne, Council Bluffs St. Albert, Panorama, Saint Ansgar, 10; 8, tie, Southwest Valley, North Linn, Nashua-Plainfield, 8.

Shot put — 1. Anna Hadley (Pekin), 39-02; 2. Mariah Myers (Fort Dodge St. Edmond), 39-0; 3. Abby Veld (AGWSR), 38-9.5: 7. Kennedy Axmear (English Valleys), 36-06.5.

3,000 — 1. Lili Denton (Council Bluffs St. Albert), 10:18.60; 2. Meghan Wheatley (North Linn), 10:27.88; 3. Claire Zweibohmer (Riceville), 10:42.39.

3,200 relay — 1. Saint Ansgar (Porisch, Powers, Bork, Anderson), 9:45.06; 2. AGWSR, 9:47.46; 3. Fort Dodge St. Edmond, 9:49.35.

Long jump — 1. Ella Whitney (Wayne), 16-07.25; 2. Emma Cooper (Southwest Valley), 16-06.50; 3. Ashlan Pearson (Grand View Christian), 16-04.25; 8. Andelyn Cabalka (East Buchanan), 16-03.50.

400 — 1. Jaidyn Sellers (Panorama), 55.44; 2. Kadence Huck (Nashua-Plainfield), 55.78; 3. Kloe Nissen (Don Bosco), 57.65; 6. Lanni Beaman (Maquoketa Valley), 59.07.