After winning a Class 4A state title in the 4×200 relay on Friday, the Ankeny Centennial boys’ track team nearly added another crown in the 4×100 relay on Saturday.
The Jaguars raced to a second-place finish on a sunny afternoon at Drake Stadium, posting a time of 41.34 seconds that broke the previous meet record. The team consisted of Elijah Porter, Connor Welsch, Lawson Langford and Max Snyder.
Unfortunately, Cedar Rapids Kennedy ran just a little faster. The Cougars set an all-time Iowa best of 41.27.
“It’s tough,” said Welsch. “That was by far our best race, but to come up just short is very sad. I love all my guys.”
Welsch and Porter are both seniors. They were joined on the winning 4×200 relay by juniors Braeden Jackson and Robert McGhee.
The 4×100 team was comprised of all seniors.
“We wanted to win,” said Langford. “We’re a little disappointed with that, but I’m proud of our boys. It’s a great way for us seniors to go out.”
The runner-up finish allowed Centennial to move into the top 10 in the final Class 4A standings. The Jaguars tied with North Scott and Waukee for seventh place, finishing with 31 points.
It was Centennial’s highest finish since 2021, when the Jaguars placed third.
“I was so happy about our 4×2 and all the progress I’ve made,” said McGhee. “I was running 24s at the start of the season, so I’ve got a lot to be happy about.”
Earlier on Saturday, McGhee placed sixth in the 200. He posted a time of 22.37 seconds.
Izaiah Loveless of Iowa City West won the race in 21.69, edging Ankeny’s Jack Belding by .06 seconds.
“I did ok,” McGhee said. “It wasn’t my best, but I’m still fine with it. We had a little bit of a headwind.”
Welsch added a fourth-place finish in the 100. He was sixth in that event a year ago.
Ankeny’s Logan Fairchild won the race in 10.89, edging Waukee’s Uriah Allen by .01 seconds. The next four finishers were separated by just .02 seconds.
“We were all right there,” Welsch said. “It was just great to compete for the Jags one last time.”
Loveless took third in 11.00 and was followed by Welsch, whose clocking of 11.002 just nipped Colton Voss of North Scott (11.006) for fourth place. Ben Frazier of Waterloo West was sixth in 11.02.
“I was hoping to do better, but it was a strong headwind,” Welsch said. “It’s hard to tell with the time, but I thought I ran decent.”
Centennial opened the day with a sixth-place finish in the sprint medley relay. The foursome of Porter, Welsch, McGhee and Snyder posted a time of 1:32.24, despite running in Lane 8.
“It was my last sprint med ever,” said Porter. “I can never be satisfied with losing–that’s not who I am. I can move on with my day, but I’m not satisfied with that time.”
Cedar Falls won the race in 1:30.32, edging Ankeny by .22 seconds.
“We’re not mad about (placing sixth),” Porter said. “Obviously, we didn’t have the best handoffs. I’m just proud of my guys. They did their job.”
