Hawks place 3rd at Ram Relays, finish 9 points ahead of Centennial boys

Ankeny Centennial’s Miles Whipple looks to pass Ankeny runner Julius Wiegand during the 4×800 relay in the Ram Relays on Thursday at Southeast Polk. The Jaguars placed second in the event with a time of 9:01.34, while the Hawks finished fourth in 9:13.45. (Photo by Dan Holm)

Thursday’s Ram Relays at Southeast Polk were held under ideal conditions, but some issues with the timing system forced all eight of the boys’ teams in the field to make some adjustments.

“I knew something wasn’t right when no times were popping up, but the team refocused and I just told them to win heats and events and that’s exactly what they went out and did,” said Ankeny coach Jordan Mullen.

The Hawks placed third overall with 121 points. Ankeny Centennial finished fourth with 112.

Pella easily won the meet with 185 points. Valley was second with 135.

Ankeny’s Jazan Williams (left) battles teammate Aidan Adamson to the wire in the 100-meter dash at Thursday’s meet. Williams placed sixth in 11.54 seconds, while Adamson took seventh in 11.65. They helped the Hawks to a third-place finish overall. (Photo by Dan Holm)

Ankeny’s Bram van de Mortel won the 400 in a time of 51.54 seconds. Teammate Carter Accola took the 400 hurdles in 59.44.

The Hawks won the 4×200 relay in a time of 1:29.74. They also captured the distance medley relay in 3:47.54.

“It was a total team effort on the track,” Mullen said. “We competed and came away with some nice wins, and we chased some kids down even when we didn’t win the heats.”

**Ankeny Centennial’s Gavin Matheny runs a leg of the shuttle hurdle relay at Thursday’s meet. The Jaguars placed fifth in the event with a time of 1:05.35. (Photo by Dan Holm)**

Centennial’s lone victory came in the 4×100 relay. The Jaguars posted a time of 43.24 seconds.

Centennial was the runner-up in the 4×800 relay in 9:01.34. The Jaguars also took second in the 4×400 relay in 3:37.44.

Ankeny’s Casen Carter placed second in the 200. He posted a time of 23.94.

Gavin Wise took third in the 110 hurdles in 16.03. Ike Smith was third in the 1,600 in 4:45.94.

**Ankeny’s Gavin Wise anchors his team to a third-place finish in the shuttle hurdle relay at Thursday’s meet. The Hawks posted a time of 1:04.04. (Photo by Dan Holm)**

Gage Ouverson added a fourth-place finish in the discus with a throw of 139 feet.

“Gage had a really nice toss,” Mullen said. “The team is starting to look really good! We’re going to move on and keep focusing on the end result. Be happy in May!”

Centennial’s Sam Dietz placed second in the shot put. He had a personal best of 55 feet 2.5 inches.

**Ankeny Centennial’s Mitchell Grider competes in the shot put during Thursday’s meet. He placed fifth in the event with a throw of 44 feet 8 inches. (Photo by Dan Holm)**

Jeremiah Bassett took second in the long jump with a leap of 20-4.25. He edged teammate Caleb Reed, who placed third, by a quarter inch.

Reed also placed third in the 200. He was clocked in 23.95.

The Jaguars also got a third-place finish from Braden Adams in the 400. He posted a time of 53.26.

Both teams will compete in the Brooks Relays on Saturday at Valley.