The Ankeny Centennial girls’ cross country team did everything it could to capture a trophy on Friday.
The fourth-ranked Jaguars simply lost to three better squads.
Centennial placed fourth in the Class 4A state meet at Fort Dodge with 145 points. The Jaguars finished 12 points behind No. 3 Dubuque Senior for the third-place trophy.
No. 1 Pleasant Valley claimed the team title with 63 points. No. 2 Johnston, the defending champion, was the runner-up with 88.
“It was an amazing day of racing!” said Centennial coach Eric Cogdill. “We talked about the task in front of us and how our Jaguars would have to have perfection from our girls and a little misfortune from our opposition for us to find a podium finish. The girls executed near flawlessly to hold up their end of the challenge but credit to PV, Johnston, and Dubuque Senior for putting together strong races as well with no visible slipups.
“We are so proud of our girls for their season, weathering the ups and the downs, and staying consistent through it all. It feels a little strange being happy with finishing fourth yet we have nothing to look back on and wish for more. We got the absolute best out of ourselves today and have no regrets,” he added.
No. 9 Ankeny, meanwhile, placed seventh with 195 points. It was the Hawkettes’ third consecutive seventh-place finish.
“We were very proud of how the team ran,” said Ankeny coach TJ Jumper. “It was a very solid performance. We were able to finish two spots higher than what we were ranked. We as coaches are so proud of this team and the perseverance they displayed this season. They overcame every situation that was thrown at them. The character, as a team and as individuals, is quite impressive. This group has a special bond and knows how to have fun. We had great senior leadership. I am very thankful to have the opportunity to coach this team.”
Centennial was led by senior Anika Mohrhauser, who battled for the lead throughout much of the 5K race before placing second in a time of 18:02. It was the highest individual finish in school history.
Sophomore Piper Messerly of Dallas Center-Grimes won the race in 17:59.
“I’m really happy,” said Mohrhauser. “I figured it would go out fast, so I tried to race smart. I kind of figured it would be me and Piper. I tried to cut the gap toward the end, but she got the best of me. It’s been a lot of fun racing against her all year. She’s great competition.
“It’s kind of crazy (that it’s my last race). But I have so many good memories,” she added.
Mohrhauser posted the 10th-fastest time ever in the Class 4A meet.
“Anika ran a masterful race,” Cogdill said. “She took a calculated approach to the start and settled into fifth place at the mile. Just before the 2-mile mark, she seized the lead which broke the five-runner pack apart. Over the next quarter mile, her surge saw two runners fall well off the lead pack and a third one clinging on but 5 seconds behind. Anika turned the race into a two-runner contest between herself and Messerly. As Anika rounded the final corner, she was all smiles and chose to soak up the final moments in those last 300 meters.
“Anika’s ascent from a very average middle school runner to state runner-up and fastest senior in the entire state across all classes has been truly a joy to be a part of. Her success was not an accident and it was not a gift–she truly earned it by committing to summer workouts and long runs at 5:45 a.m. spanning to the freezing, dark, isolating training she did on her own in the winter and every moment in between,” he added.
Mohrhauser was joined on the awards podium by teammate Haley Hveem and Drew Beason of Ankeny. Hveem placed 13th in a time of 18:28, while Beason finished 14th in 18:30.
“I’m really happy,” said Hveem. “I did not expect to get that because in the middle of the race I was really far behind. I wanted to be like 25th at around the half-mile, and I was more like 35th. Once Cog told me that I needed to pass one person, then I had a kick. But normally I don’t.”
Hveem, a senior, had placed 69th a year ago.
“Haley’s climb this season in many ways mirrors Anika’s career,” Cogdill said. “We found the right training formula that clicked for her and she thrived on the treadmill much of last winter to make a big leap during track and then committed herself again this summer to take another one. Haley spent a fair amount of time worrying this week about finishing in the dreaded 16th spot (first spot off the medal podium). And it probably didn’t help her when I told her I had her penciled out to finish somewhere between 10th and 16th. So, we spent some time (Thursday) visiting about how to find a kick in the final stretch. With 150 meters to go, we found her in 16th place, let her know about it, and it didn’t take much for her to let it rip and pass three girls to finish 13th. She found a kick for the first time all season and it paid off huge.”
Beason, a senior, was one of the runners that Hveem passed at the end.
“My goal was definitely top 10,” said Beason.
Still, Beason became a four-time placewinner for the Hawkettes.
“Drew left her mark and her legacy,” Jumper said.
Ankeny got a 21st-place finish from junior Makenna Madetzke. She was clocked in 18:49.
“My goal was to be in top 15,” said Madetzke. “I was a handful of girls off, but I gave it my best and I’ve got next year. I think (the pace) was faster than how I would have liked to run it. I also thought the conditions were going to be great, but on the third mile it was just wind in your face. I think going out hard the first two miles made that quite difficult.”
Bella Hodges placed 37th for the Jaguars in 19:14. She became a four-time top-50 finisher.
Ellie Blevins took 43rd in 19:18. Julia Flick placed 62nd in 19:44, Trinity Klingensmith was 83rd in 20:07, and Kylee Patterson finished 106th in 20:55.
Cogdill praised the effort of his assistant coaches, Gail Vander Wilt and Kim Angus.
“We couldn’t do it without their energy, support and calming presence,” he said. “And, we also had a little behind-the-scenes assistance from (former Ankeny boys’) coach Steve Arneson too, helping me and the girls with the mental aspects of coaching and competing.”
Sophia Graber placed 49th for the Hawkettes in 19:26. Ainsley Kiene took 54th in 19:30, Raegan Prendergast was 77th in 20:02, Ivy Wiegand placed 89th in 20:14, and Lauren Jackson finished 107th in 20:56.
“Raegan met our goal of running 20 minutes, and Ivy set a lifetime PR,” Jumper said. “Ainsley and Sophia ran a gutsy race.”
Madetzke was also proud of her teammates.
“We’re just happy that we finished the race together, and we were all healthy enough to run today,” she said.
