Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Josie Harvey of St. Edmond competes in the 1A girls 100-meter hurdles finals on Saturday in Des Moines.

DES MOINES — Josie Harvey took her opportunity and ran with it here Saturday at the final day of the state track and field championships.

The St. Edmond junior scored her first state medal, securing third place in the Class 1A 100-meter hurdles inside Drake Stadium.

Harvey, who entered outside of the Top-10 in terms of qualifying times, moved up from seventh in the prelims to net bronze in a time of 16.23. Senior Claire Schroeder of Remsen St. Mary’s was first followed by 12th-grader Lindsey Moore of Northwood-Kensett.

“When I made finals, I was content with that — but of course wanted more,” Harvey said. “Going into finals, I was just wanted Top-5. I’ve worked so hard this season to get here, so to be able to show that to the whole state is something I could have only dreamt of.

“Seeing my name on the board was probably the most rewarding thing.”

Harvey just edged fellow junior Hannah Olson from Stanton, as she finished in 16.24. As a sophomore, she was 20th in the hurdles.

“Running at state is something that I’ve seen many of my siblings do,” Harvey said. “Making it last year was really rewarding so I only wanted more this year.”

That wasn’t the only medal on the day for the Gael girls, as Anna Lursen placed fourth in the 800 to help the team finish eighth overall with 25 points.

Lursen, the younger sister of former SEHS state champion Aaron Lursen, went 2:20.05 to set a new PR, breaking the school record and earning her first individual state medal. Last year, she was 10th in the 800 while also running on the third place 4×800 relay earlier in the meet.

Kadence Huck of Nashua-Plainfield was the race winner in 2:13.98 with Lili Denton of Council Bluffs St. Albert and Katelyn Brandhorst from Madrid just right in front of Lursen.

“Going into the race, I was determined to break the school record,” Lursen said. “With our 4×400 and distance medley just missing a medal, I had more motivation than ever to make this happen.

“When I finished, I knew it was going to be close. When Coach (CJ Tracy) told me my time, I was beyond happy. Not only me, but my whole team has worked so hard this season to perform these last three days and we did just that.”

Michaela Leiting concluded a strong week for Tracy and St. Edmond by concluding her senior year with a 22nd place finish in the 1,500. Leiting, who also ran on the bronze 4×800 relay, clocked a time of 5:18.10.

“This week was such a thrilling way to end our season,” Tracy said. “These girls have worked so hard for this moment and it’s incredible to see it pay off. We finished with several PRs, three new school records and ended up eighth in 1A. Those are some amazing accomplishments and a testament to the young women that wore the St. Edmond uniform.

“I would like to thank the four seniors, Michaela, Hannah Landwehr, Andee Barwin and Reese Lemberg, for their leadership and guidance of the younger athletes. Words cannot express how much you have meant to the St. Edmond track program and you will be greatly missed.”

Anthony Valles was 19th for the Gael boys in the 1,600, setting a new PR with a time of 4:39.93. He was the third-highest-finishing sophomore in the race.