Junior Cohen Moll led the eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys’ cross country team to a sixth-place finish in the CIML Conference meet on Wednesday at Southeast Polk. The Jaguars finished with a total of 138 points.
Moll placed 10th in the 5K race with a time of 16 minutes 6 seconds, allowing him to earn all-conference honors. It was his fifth top-10 finish this season.
Here is some inside info on Moll:
Were you happy with your race on Wednesday?
I would say that I’m pretty happy with how my race went. This was my first time running at the Southeast Polk course so I was not sure what to expect when it came to the hills and my performance. Even if this was one of the more difficult courses that we’ve raced on this season, I felt strong throughout the entire race which I am satisfied with.
The running conditions were perfect, but that course is pretty tough with a lot of hills. Do you like that course?
I have definitely ran on faster courses in the past, but I still think it’s a decent course to compete on. I think that every once in a while, having a course where I can challenge myself can be a good thing.
Were you looking for any specific runners to stay with during the race?
I had my mind focused on a few of the top runners from Waukee Northwest for most of the race. I also had my eyes on Dowling Catholic’s No. 3 and 4 runners who both had strong finishes. Even though these teams got the better of me that day, I know that I have the skill set to compete with both of them as the state championship race comes around the corner.
What did you think of your team’s performance?
In a lot of ways I think our team performed well on Wednesday. We were missing our No. 3 runner, Davis Johnson, which knocked us down one or two placements. However, I was really happy seeing us run very well as a pack for the majority of the race and having five guys finish within 20 seconds of each other. This gives me confidence for us moving into the championship season knowing that we have a solid team and are capable of running fast as a group.
Did you have any goals for the race–either individually or as a team?
I went into the race aiming to finish in a top 10 spot and ended up placing exactly where I wanted to. My plan for the race was to go out fast for the first mile and find a pack of runners who I can let do most of the heavy lifting. I believe I executed this plan pretty well for the majority of the race until some runners started to break away.
You have been the team’s No. 1 runner all season, stepping up into the role that AJ Schermerhorn filled for the last two years. Did you learn a lot from him?
AJ has definitely made a big impact on our team with his leadership over the last couple of years. Him being a top runner in the state helped us learn through his experiences such as what makes a race successful or not, and to not let bad races affect your mental state. I think AJ left me off in a good spot to take over his role which has allowed me to have a little more confidence this season.
You found out Wednesday that your team would be headed to Marshalltown next week for the state qualifying meet. Do you know anything about that course?
I have seen that Marshalltown can prove to be a fast course especially if the conditions are right. Our training over the last couple of weeks has been preparing us for this race so our team is excited to compete. This will also be my first time running at Marshalltown so it will be a new experience for me on Wednesday.
Your teammate, Brayden Vander Wilt, told me that he thinks the meet will come down to a battle between your squad and Norwalk. Is that how you see it?
I do think that Norwalk is going to be the team to beat at this meet, but I know to not count out any of the other teams. Both Dallas Center-Grimes and Marshalltown have good teams as well who will be competing just as hard as us. We just need to focus on our individual placements because a few points can make a big difference.
You placed 70th in last year’s state meet, but you have been ranked in the top 30 for most of the season and are currently ranked 28th. Assuming that you qualify for state, what will be your goals for the meet?
My ultimate goal from the start of the season has been to earn a top 15 finish on the podium at state. I still believe that I can achieve this, but I’ve learned throughout the season how many strong runners have made an appearance who could perform well at state. As a team, we feel that we could place in the top six at state which would be a big improvement from last year. I know that if we can all put together a good race at the right time, we are able to compete with some of the top teams in the state.
I mentioned AJ earlier, and he is now running at Iowa State. Would you like to run in college?
Assuming my senior year goes as well as I hope, I would like to run for a college program. Over the next year, I’m wanting to do a few nearby college visits to help me learn more about what training looks like, team culture, coaching, etc. to help me finalize my decisions.
Do you know what you want to study?
As of now, I am undecided on what I would want to study after high school. However, I’ve definitely been focusing on a few of my interests in school in order to narrow it down.