Thursday’s Waukee Relays gave the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys’ track teams one final opportunity to qualify for the Drake Relays in various events.
Both squads turned in some strong performances.
Waukee Northwest won the nine-team meet with 173 points, while Ankeny edged its crosstown rival and two other squads for second place. The Hawks scored 110 points, while Centennial took third with 103 and was followed closely by Norwalk (101) and Indianola (100).
“We had a nice night,” said Ankeny coach Nick Nelson, whose team won six events. “Our athletes have been taking care of themselves, and their performances showed.”
Centennial, meanwhile, won three events–including two of the four field events. Isaiah Valentine took the long jump with a leap of 21 feet 8 inches, while Sam Dietz captured the shot put with a throw of 49-10.
“Isaiah set a school record,” said Centennial coach Nate Smith.
Ankeny’s Tyrese Miller won the 100 in 10.99 seconds. His brother, Tyson, took the 400 in 51.19.
Those two also teamed up with Colin Kadolph and Jamison Patton to win the 4×100 relay in 43.13. The Centennial team of Alec Schneider, Connor Welsch, Max Snyder and Nick Severson placed second in 43.79.
The Hawks got a victory in the 800 from Jake Bosch, who posted a time of 1:58.99. He also teamed up with Levi Hill, Abel Squires and Truman Patterson to win the 4×800 relay in 8:08.94.
Ankeny’s other win came in the 4×200 relay. The foursome of Jack Belding, Tyrese Miller, Tyler Sickerson and Devon Akers was clocked in 1:29.68.
Belding also placed third in the 100 in 11.40. Teammate Cash Schoolen tied for second in the high jump, clearing the bar at 6 feet.
“I am proud of how the coaches are living and believing in our philosophy and how the athletes are trusting us to develop them,” Nelson said. “It was encouraging to see our guys having fun.”
The Jaguars won the shuttle hurdle relay in a time of 1:02.84. That team consisted of Easton Miller, Malachi Curvey, Cael Woods and Tyler Bruns.
Centennial was the runner-up in the sprint medley relay. The quartet of Peyton Goode, Thomas Bunce, Gabe Murphy and London Hershberger posted a time of 1:38.55.
Aammin Hassan placed fourth for the Jaguars in the 400 in 54.41.
“Aammin showed good footspeed to get fourth as a freshman,” Smith said. “And I was also pleased with both Schermerhorns (Tyler and AJ), who PR’d on the distance side.”