Ankeny Community Schools is pleased to announce that Ankeny Centennial High School will be hosting the Iowa Association of Track Coaches middle school state cross country meet on Saturday. A 2-mile course has been laid out on the ACHS campus at 2220 NW State St.
Spectators are welcome to park in lots on the west and east sides of the building for $5. Concessions and t-shirt sales will be available at the meet.
Since the meet moved to Ankeny in 2014, it has seen exponential growth from 900 finishers. This year, race director Eric Cogdill expects over 1,500 seventh and eighth grade boys and girls to compete in the 12 races, which begin at 11 a.m. and will continue until approximately 3:30 p.m.
“This is a very exciting event, a huge undertaking, that our cross country teams and parents are proud to be able to host at our high school campus,” said Cogdill, who is also the Centennial girls’ cross country coach. “In addition to being a great opportunity for our students and spectators, this vast event also brings roughly 5,000 visitors to our community providing a boost to local commerce.”
Members of the community and neighborhoods surrounding Ankeny Centennial should note that there will be a significant increase of traffic between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. as the bulk of the racers are arriving and departing. Expect traffic delays along NW 18th St. and NW State St. and consider taking alternate routes.