Valley’s Addison Dorenkamp braves heat, ends career as one of Iowa’s best distance runners

As West Des Moines Valley’s star distance runner Addison Dorenkamp made her way to Drake Stadium for the start of her final state track and field meet Thursday, she began to worry about the heat projected in the forecast.

Her mom, Jan Dorenkamp, saw the irony in her daughter’s concern.

“You better get used to it,” Jan Dorenkamp told Addison. “That’s what it is going to be like down south.”

The meet served as a teaser for what’s to come for Addison Doreknamp when she heads to the University of Alabama to continue her distance-running career. Hot temperatures and humidity will be the norm, most days a lot worse than what she faced on the Blue Oval.

The early results, as usual, were pretty good for the senior as she shook off the concern and secured a 3000-meter title Thursday morning.

As she came off the track, she reached for a water cup and dumped it over her head for instant relief from the heat.

“I was kind of dying,” Dorenkamp joked. “It was the one thing I thought I could do to cool myself down.”

She returned to the meet on Saturday for her final high school event, the 1500. Temperatures hovered in the upper-80s in Des Moines with a much hotter surface on the track.

She refused to be denied on this special day, securing the all-time Iowa record with a 4:25.32. That was over an entire second faster than Sioux City East’s Shelby Houlihan in 2010 (4:26.39).

As public address announcer Mike Jay serenaded Dorenkamp for a special career, he revealed to the crowd that it was Dorenkamp’s 18th birthday. How Jay knew that information was a surprise to her, after not telling many people. She planned to attend and celebrate her fellow seniors at their graduation parties following her state title rather than celebrate her birthday.

As humble as she was, she couldn’t help but express her excitement after that type of performance.

“It’s probably the greatest birthday present I’ve ever gotten,” Dorenkamp said.

Anyone in attendance at the state track meet saw how impressive Dorenkamp’s race was. As Dorenkamp was approaching the record, she said she felt her eyesight go just about black as she ran the final 100 meters in the sweltering heat.

That moment, she proved to herself that heat wouldn’t be too much of a problem when she heads off to college.

“It’s nice to know that I’m not a complete wimp,” Dorenkamp joked.

Dorenkamp ends her career with eight state championships, two in cross country and six in track. In cross country, she holds the third-fastest time in Iowa history at 17:40.1. For track, she swept the distance events three consecutive years and holds the 3000-meter record with her time of 9:23.6 at this year’s Drake Relays. She also holds Drake Relays records in the 1500 and 3000, which she set in April.

Every state title was precious for the Valley senior. However, as she reflects upon one of the most dominant legacies that the Iowa high school community has seen in distance running, she just hopes the next generation is better than her.

“Hopefully I was able to inspire younger athletes along the way who one day will break my records,” Dorenkamp said.

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23