Area produces two state runners-up

DES MOINES - Clarksville and North Butler each produced a state runner-up in Class 1A on Thursday, May 18.
The Indians' Kori Wedeking was second in the first running event of the day, leading the 3,000 for about 800 before being passed in the last two laps and finishing in 10 minutes, 38.52 seconds behind East Mills' Janette Schraft.
"I knew the girl who won it was pretty good," Wedeking said. "I thought I could stick right by her and get her at the end.
"I was going to try to kick it in, but I got a little tired and she had a good kick."
Nicole Heeren of North Butler popped off a personal best in the finals of the Class 1A shot put to earn her state runner-up finish in the event.
Throwing 40 feet, 4 inches in her first throw of the final, Heeren was second only to Lawton-Bronson's Jadin Wagner.
"This morning I just tried to stay focused and relaxed," Heeren said. "Last year, I warmed up too fast, I wanted to make sure that I relaxed and stayed in the moment and didn't think about what would happen after.
"I really didn't feel like I popped one (a PR), but I must have and it felt good."