Even without many of its top performers, the Ankeny boys’ track team nearly won the North Polk Relays on Tuesday.
Johnston won the meet with 117 points, edging the Hawks by a point. North Polk was third in the seven-team field with 97 points.
Ankeny captured the final event, the 4×400 relay, but the Dragons earned a third-place finish that allowed them to claim the team crown.
“I’m so proud of how far this team has come along, and everyone is competing and moving in the right direction for championship season just around the corner!” said Ankeny coach Jordan Mullen. “We had kids ranging from freshmen all the way to seniors competing and the Hawks were fighting all the way to the finish line! We had a ton of PRs across the board! It was awesome getting to watch!”
The Hawks won six events, including a pair of relays. The foursome of Chase Bradley, Jake Bosch, Tate Brownsberger and Alexander Zuber won the 4×400 in a time of 3:27.71.
Ankeny also took the shuttle hurdle relay in a time of 1:02.11. That team consisted of Landon Pote, Sam Madsen, Hayden Carlson and Gavin Wise.
Pote also won the 110 hurdles in 15.01 seconds. Carlson placed third in that event in 15.59.
Devon Akers captured the 100 in 10.89 seconds. Teammate Dawson Whitinger was the runner-up in 10.92.
Abel Squires raced to a victory in the 800. He was clocked in 2:03.07.
Cash Schoolen provided the Hawks’ other win. He took the high jump with a leap of 6 feet 1 inch.
Justice Rathje placed second in the 1,600 in a time of 4:39.39. Casen Carter finished third in the 200 in 23.13, while Ryan Tomlinson placed third in the shot put with a throw of 44 feet.
“I could not have asked for a better meet to set the tone for the Drake Relays!” Mullen said.
