‘They are ready for the challenge!’: 2-time champion Hawks return 5 state qualifiers

Ankeny’s Sam Madsen runs the second leg of the shuttle hurdle relay during last year’s Class 4A state meet. The Hawks won the race in an all-time Iowa best of 56.06 seconds. Hayden Carlson is also back from that relay for Ankeny, which has won the last two Class 4A team crowns. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)

The bar has been raised by the Ankeny boys’ track program over the last few seasons.

After placing second in the Class 4A state meet in 2023, the Hawks won back-to-back titles in 2024-25 under coach Jordan Mullen.

“We have a lot of momentum and excitement going into this year!” said Mullen. “We are going to heavily focus on our team. As of right now, 4A is wide open in my opinion. There were a couple really good teams I saw at the ISU (indoor) meet that I will be keeping my eye on throughout the season.”

Ankeny defended its Class 4A title last year by racking up 100 points, 22 more than Cedar Falls. But many of the standouts from that squad have graduated.

Distance star Ethan Zuber, who won four state titles on the track and two more in cross country, is now competing at Missouri. Hurdler and high jumper Landon Pote, who ran on the winning shuttle hurdle relay a year ago, has taken his talents to Central College.

Sprinters Logan Fairchild and Tyler Sickerson will also be difficult to replace after combining for 18 medals and three state titles in their Ankeny careers. They are now competing for Washington University (Mo.) and Northern Iowa, respectively.

“It is really early in the season, and we have a very young team this year with a few key pieces that we are going to have to rely on heavily,” Mullen said. “We also have to have a handful of kids step up! With that being said, I’ll never count the Hawks out. We want to bring another trophy back to Ankeny! I have and will always tell my boys we can accomplish anything we set out to do as a team! It is going to be super important that we keep the team atmosphere where it has been the last few years and not be selfish.

“This is a new year and a new team, and they are ready for the challenge!” he added.

Ankeny’s Isaiah Smith runs the second leg of the 4×800 relay during last year’s Class 4A state meet. The Hawks went on to win their second straight title in the event, posting a time of 7:39.94. Smith is the lone returnee from that relay. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)

The Hawks will rebuild around a quintet of returning state qualifiers. They are hurdlers Hayden Carlson and Sam Madsen, sprinters Treyton Grossman and Alexander Zuber, and middle distance runner Isaiah Smith.

Smith has helped Ankeny to two consecutive state titles and back-to-back Drake Relays crowns in the 4×800 relay. The Hawks won the Class 4A race a year ago in a time of 7:39.94.

Smith placed 13th in the 1,600 in 4:16.74. He also ran on the distance medley relay that placed 10th in 3:29.71.

Smith was a four-time state cross country qualifier. He helped the Hawks to third-place finishes in Class 4A in 2022-23.

“We had some sparks at the ISU meet, where Ike stole the show by going out and dropping a huge PR in the open 800,” Mullen said. “He took the title in that event, then bounced back and ran a really nice leg in the 4×400 relay!”

Both Carlson and Madsen ran on the shuttle hurdle relay that set an all-time Iowa best of 56.06 seconds at the state meet. Madsen also ran on the 4×200 relay that placed fifth in a time of 1:27.24.

Carlson, an Iowa recruit, placed second in the 110 hurdles in 13.91 seconds, which broke his own school record. He is a two-time CIML Conference champion in that event.

Ankeny’s Hayden Carlson (left) runs alongside teammate Landon Pote during the 110 hurdles in last year’s Class 4A district meet at Marshalltown. Carlson placed second in the event in 14.01 seconds and went on to earn runner-up honors at the state meet in 13.91, which broke his own school record. Pote is now a freshman at Central College. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)

Grossman and Zuber will become the leaders of the Hawks’ sprint crew. They both ran on the sprint medley relay that placed fifth in 1:31.45 and the 4×100 relay that finished sixth in 42.07 seconds.

Grossman also joined Madsen on the 4×200 relay. Zuber joined Smith on the distance medley relay.

Among the other returnees is Finn McClure, who could also make a big impact this season. Right now, though, Mullen is waiting for his team to become fully healthy.

“We’ve had a few of our sprinters banged up so I decided to rest them for the ISU meet,” Mullen said. “With that being said, I saw some things I really needed to see which was awesome! We’ve got some really nice young talent coming up!”

Ankeny will compete in the Early Bird Relays on Thursday at Waukee Northwest. It will be the Hawks’ first outdoor meet of the season.

Mullen is confident that his team will do everything it can to earn a threepeat in May.

“I believe the biggest team goal this year is making sure we leave everything on the track come championship season,” he said. “If we do that, we can not be mad at the outcome whatever that shall be. I can’t wait to see what my boys accomplish this year!”