It didn’t take long for Quinn Groff to make an impact for the Ankeny girls’ cross country program.
Groff guided the ninth-ranked Hawkettes to the team title in the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on Monday in his debut as the team’s coach. The meet was held at the Iowa State cross country course in Ames.
“The girls ran well!” Groff said. “Our coaching staff is incredibly proud of the work they have put in!”
Ankeny scored 61 points to capture its first crown since 2021, when the Hawkettes won the Rim Rock Farm Classic in Lawrence, Kan. No. 6 Ankeny Centennial, the defending champion, placed second in the 11-team field with 81 points.
The Jaguars defeated No. 4 Valley by two points.
“I thought we did well,” said Centennial junior Anika Mohrhauser. “We worked really hard this summer, and I felt like it kind of showed.”
Claire Helmers of Ames pulled away from the field early in the 5k race and went on to post a convincing victory. She was clocked in 17 minutes 45 seconds.
Ankeny’s Drew Beason ran in second place for much of the race, but she was eventually passed by Mohrhauser. Mohrhauser placed second in 18:23.
“I thought I ran really well,” Mohrhauser said. “It’s always fun running with Drew. She’s really good competition, and I just like racing against her.”
Beason, a junior, took third in 18:37.
“I was happy with my race,” Beason said. “I’m happy with the time.”
Beason was followed by a pack of Ankeny runners. The other six Hawkettes placed between 12th and 21st, and they were separated by a gap of just 19 seconds.
“They always talk about running in a pack, and I knew they could do it,” Beason said.
Lauren Jackson placed 12th in a time of 19:50. Ainsley Kiene was 13th in 19:52, Gwen Briggs placed 15th in 19:54, Raegan Prendergast took 18th in 20:02, Sophia Graber was 19th in 20:04, and Makenna Madetzke finished 21st in 20:09.
“The most important part was they had fun!” Groff said.
Bella Hodges placed 11th for the Jaguars in 19:48. Julia Flick was 17th in 19:59, Haley Hveem took 23rd in 20:14, Tillie Smith placed 28th in 20:38, Anja Peck was 31st in 20:49, and Tallie Plueger finished 34th in 20:55.
Monday’s meet was the season opener for both teams. The Centennial Invitational was cancelled on Aug. 22 due to the extreme heat last week, giving all of the Hawkettes and Jaguars a few more days to continue training.
“It was nice to get back to school and getting into that routine,” Mohrhauser said.
The conditions on Monday were better than what they would have been last week, but the runners still had to deal with some warm temperatures.
“I definitely felt the heat, but I’m kind of used to it now,” Beason said. “It wasn’t that bad.”
Ankeny will compete in the Bobcat Invitational on Sept. 7 at Marshalltown.
“We are excited for what’s to come,” Groff said.
The Jaguars will run in the Cedar Rapids Kennedy Invitational on Sept. 7 at the Seminole Valley cross country course.
