The decision to focus on her running career has paid off for Ankeny senior Makenna Madetzke.
Madetzke, who spent a lot of time playing soccer until her junior year, will join the Missouri State women’s track and cross country programs in 2026. She signed a letter of intent with the Lady Bears earlier this week.
Madetzke earned a spot on the awards podium at the Class 4A state cross country meet on Nov. 1 at Fort Dodge. She placed 13th in the 5K race with a time of 18 minutes 12.7 seconds.
Madetzke was a three-time state cross country qualifier. She placed 49th as a sophomore and 21st last year, helping the Hawkettes to a pair of seventh-place finishes.
Last spring, Madetzke helped Ankeny to a fifth-place finish in the Class 4A state track meet. She placed fifth in the 1,500 with a time of 4:36.40 and finished sixth in the 800 in 2:14.31.
Madetzke also anchored her team’s runner-up distance medley and fifth-place 4×800 relays. The Hawkettes set a school record of 4:00.10 in the distance medley relay, the second-fastest time ever in Iowa.
Madetzke placed sixth in both the 800 and 1,500 at the 2025 Drake Relays. Her time of 4:36.22 in the 1,500 set a school record.
As a sophomore, Madetzke placed sixth in the 800 at the state meet. She also ran on the third-place 4×800 relay.