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Centennial boys finish ahead of Hawks at Fort Dodge despite another win by Zuber

October 11, 2024 by Dan Holm

Ankeny Centennial’s Brayden Vander Wilt competes in the Fort Dodge Invitational on Thursday. He placed 26th in a time of 16 minutes 27 seconds to help the Jaguars to a fourth-place finish among 28 teams. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)

For the second time this season, the Ankeny Centennial boys’ cross country team defeated its crosstown rival.

The 13th-ranked Jaguars placed fourth among 28 teams in the Fort Dodge Invitational on Thursday with 184 points. No. 5 Ankeny took fifth with 205 points.

It was the first meeting between the two teams since the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on Sept. 5 at Ames, where the Jaguars placed second and the Hawks finished fourth. Prior to that meet, Centennial had not defeated Ankeny since the Schmaltz Invitational in 2021.

“It was a good night for us,” said Centennial coach Chad Fickbohm. “We competed well in a tough meet.”

No. 1 Dowling Catholic captured the team title for the third straight year. The Maroons placed seven runners in the top 20 and scored 41 points, while No. 9 Norwalk was a distant second with 126.

Ankeny’s Ethan Zuber crosses the finish line to win Thursday’s race in a time of 15 minutes 11 seconds. It was his second straight win and his third of the season. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)

Ankeny’s Ethan Zuber won his second consecutive race and his third of the season. He covered the 5K course in a time of 15:11, finishing 12 seconds ahead of Dowling’s Jack Fiori.

“I just focused on checking the box at Fort Dodge and moving onto the last few meets here,” said Zuber.

Cohen Moll led the way for Centennial. The junior placed 16th in a time of 16:04.

“He is having a great season,” Fickbohm said.

Brayden Vander Wilt took 26th for the Jaguars in 16:27. Davis Johnson was 35th in 16:34, Sean Thomas placed 53rd in 16:45, and Jack Behrens finished 54th in 16:46.

“Brayden and Davis finishing close together with Sean and Jack just behind makes us a pretty good team in a big meet,” Fickbohm said.

Ankeny Centennial’s Jack Behrens (front) and Sean Thomas run together during Thursday’s race. Thomas went on to place 53rd in a time of 16:45, while Behrens finished 54th in 16:46. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)

Rounding out the Jaguars’ top seven were Mark Nelson and Ian Smith. Nelson took 85th in 17:14, and Smith finished 86th in 17:15.

“We are excited about how we are becoming more cohesive racers–and gaining confidence along the way,” Fickbohm said. “It is a good spot to be in going into the championship part of the season.”

Ankeny competed without its No. 2 runner, Isaiah Smith, who is ranked 13th in Class 4A. That resulted in a sizable gap between Zuber and the rest of the Hawks.

Justice Rathje was the team’s next finisher, placing 42nd in 16:38. Tate Brownsberger took 45th in 16:39, Nick Robie was 48th in 16:41, Brett Augustine placed 70th in 17:02, Jackson Kaiser was 78th in 17:10, and Zach Riley finished 111th in 17:34.

Ankeny runner Nick Robie (middle) tries to stay in a pack with Justice Rathje (left) and Tate Brownsberger during Thursday’s race. Rathje went on to place 42nd in a time of 16:38, Brownsberger was 45th in 16:39, and Robie finished 48th in 16:41. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)

“I think the team performed really well,” Zuber said. “Even without Ike, a lot of guys stepped up and we are reeling in our overall team spread. The next three guys really focused on packing it up and running together. They looked super strong, just how we need them coming down to the season’s final stretch. I have confidence that Ike will be back the rest of the season and that our 3 through 5 (runners) will continue to make great progress toward our goal on Nov. 1.”

Both teams will head to Southeast Polk on Wednesday for the CIML Conference meet. Zuber and the Hawks will try to defend their titles, while the Jaguars will be looking to improve on last year’s seventh-place finish.

Filed Under: Boys' Cross Country, Hawks, Jaguars Tagged With: Chad Fickbohm, Ethan Zuber, Featured

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