University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Signee Named Nominee for National Runner of the Year
4/6/2022 10:33:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
The 24 nominees will be honored as nominees for national Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year. The winner, along with three finalists, will be revealed July 31 during an on-demand broadcast, which this year will feature top athletes in 29 boys and girls sports awards categories as well as special honors like Special Olympics Athlete of the Year, Rising Star and Play of the Year.
The 2021 Minnesota State Champion in cross country, Weimer brings in outstanding times of 17:03 in the 5K along with a 4:49.93 in the 1600m on the track and a 10:21.41 in the 3200m. Weimer has placed among the top 10 finishers at every state meet going back to her eighth grade season and her times this past season were the fastest by any individual in the state of Minnesota in 2021.
Following the 2022 Minnesota State cross country meet, Weimer competed in the annual Nike Regional Meet against the top runners from the seven-state "Heartland" Regional, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Weimer was the individual champion, besting the field with her personal best time of 17:03. Normally, runners could advance to the Nike National Cross Country Meet, but the national meet was canceled this year. Weimer then competed at the 13-state Eastbay Midwest Regional (formerly the Footlocker Midwest Regional) in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She placed second individually, and qualified for the National Eastbay cross-country meet with a 5K time of 17:11. In that race in San Diego, Weimer earned "All-American" honors by placing 11th, individually, competing as a member of the Midwest team.
Cross Country Head Coach Sarah Hopkins on Weimer: "Continuing the theme of top Minnesota runners committing to the gophers, Ali has been one of the best runners in Minnesota her whole high school career, but the last 12 months she has taken her running to a whole new level. One of the best recruits in the country, we could not be more excited that Ali is staying home to rep the Maroon and Gold!"