Originally posted in The Freeman…
LA CROSSE — Analena Peterson picked one heck of a way to celebrate her birthday.
In her final crack at winning gold at the WIAA State Track and Field Championships, the Catholic Memorial senior did it twice over on Saturday and set a state record in the process.
That record Peterson broke happened to be her own from the day before, as she ran a winning time of 24.19 seconds in the Division 2 girls 200-meter dash final. She had a 24.28 clocking in Friday’s preliminary heat. “I remember when (Shorewood’s Delea Martins) set the record (in 2023), I was like, I’m gonna break that when I come back,” Peterson said. “And being able to do it in prelims was really, really surreal. And then being able to do it again, I felt like I was not gonna be able to do it or run even close to my time. So honestly, there’s no words to describe this moment right now.”
Martins ran a 24.34 in 2023, when Peterson finished third as a sophomore.
But before Peterson had even lined up to start the 200, she was already a gold medalist.
That’s because the Eastern Illinois recruit had claimed the D2 100 dash championship earlier in the day with a winning time of 12.06, beating out runner-up Stella Arn from Brodhead/Juda by 8 one-hundredths of a second. “I wanted it so bad,” Peterson said, as evidenced by her scream after crossing the finish line. “I remember even in eighth grade, I was like, I’m gonna win a state medal. I’m gonna get first. I’m gonna be on that podium. It’s just like a dream come true for me.”
Peterson said she had an idea that the three-time defending state champion in the D2 100, Lucci Aizpurua of Amery, wasn’t going to compete despite being listed on the heat sheet. But she wasn’t going to let that distract her from the task at hand.
“Because if I got into my head, I feel like I wouldn’t have performed where I wanted to,” Peterson said. “But just saying she’s gonna be here, I’m gonna have to run against her just helped me to stay in that right mindset.”
Peterson’s day still wasn’t done after winning her two golds, as she also anchored the CMH 4×400 relay. She teamed up with Julia Nicholas, Samantha Sarner and Arianne Ebel to finish fifth (3:56.62) and help the Crusader girls finish 11th in the D2 team standings with 24 points.
“Tired legs for sure,” Peterson said. “Just that drive and determination is what got me through.”
Catholic Memorial senior Analena Peterson reacts after winning the Division 1 girls 100-meter dash during the WIAA State Track and Field Championships on Saturday in La Crosse.
Article Credit Dave Radcliffe/Freeman Staff
Photo Credit Scott Ash / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel