The Ankeny girls’ track team scored points in three events at the Class 4A state meet on Thursday, while Ankeny Centennial came out of the slow heat to earn a fourth-place finish in the 4×800 relay at Drake Stadium.
The Hawkettes are tied for sixth place with 10 points after the opening day of the coed meet. The Jaguars sit in 12th place with five points.
Ankeny was led by sophomore sprinter Morgan Fisher, who broke a pair of her own school records. She placed second in the 400 in 54.23 seconds, which ranks fifth on the state’s all-time list.
“It felt amazing,” said Fisher, who was fourth in the event a year ago. “I was just trying to go in there with an open mind and whatever happens happens. I knew I was ready for it.”
Kloe Nissen of Cedar Falls, who was running just to the outside of Fisher, defended her crown in 53.93. She posted the second-fastest time in state history, trailing only the 52.90 clocking recorded by Southeast Polk’s Sydney Milani in 2018.
“That helped (to have Nissen in Lane 4),” Fisher said. “I liked having her right there. I could see where she was and base my pace off of that.”
Fisher earlier posted the second-fastest qualifying time in the preliminaries of the 200. She was clocked in 24.32 seconds, eclipsing her previous school record of 24.54.
“I was surprised by that time,” Fisher said. “I was happy with it.”
Katie Willits of Waukee Northwest was the top qualifier in 23.94, moving her to No. 2 on the state’s all-time list. Later, she turned in the fastest time in the prelims of the 100.
“It was a good first race to get the jitters out,” Fisher said. “It got me warmed up for the 400.”
Centennial posted a time of 9:11.85 in the 4×800 relay. The team consisted of Rebecca Flick, Sammi Maile, Natalie Cogdill and Ellie Blevins.
The same quartet had placed second at the Drake Relays last month in 9:08.35, which set a school record. But the Jaguars were not running against the best teams on Thursday.
Flick put her team in front with a strong opening leg, then the margin continued to grow throughout the race. Blevins ran all by herself on the anchor leg, finishing more than 25 seconds ahead of Valley.
“We were pretty satisfied with our finish considering we were in the slower heat,” said Blevins. “I know we could have most likely placed higher if we were in the faster heat, but what we did out there was amazing! I am super proud of our mostly solo efforts. Our coach really zoned in on having us run our own races at paces that would give us the best shot at a higher place. Obviously, I would be doubling back from the 3,000 so I would lose a few seconds there due to fatigue. But overall, I am really proud of my team’s efforts today!”
Waukee Northwest went on to win the title in 8:58.01, finishing more than 9 seconds ahead of Johnston. The Wolves ran an all-time state best while also posting the eighth-fastest time in the U.S. this season.
Earlier, Centennial advanced to Saturday’s final in the shuttle hurdle relay. The quartet of Ava Barten, Siena Peddicord, Taylor Gilbreaith and Anna Woods posted the fourth-fastest qualifying time of 1:03.08, which will put them in the fast heat for the final.
Valley was the top qualifier in 1:00.11. The Tigers broke their own Class 4A record that they set in last year’s prelims.
Ankeny’s other points came in the field events, where Mila Badillo placed eighth in the high jump and Maliya Cobb matched her with an eighth-place finish in the discus.
Badillo cleared the bar on her first try at each of the first three heights: 4-10, 5-0 and 5-2. She then missed all three of her tries at 5-4, but her unblemished mark until then allowed her to win a six-way tie for eighth place.
Elle Lonergan of Clinton and Alyssa Schroeder of North Scott both cleared 5-6, but Lonergan claimed the title based on fewer misses.
Cobb recorded a throw of 129-10 in the discus. Her best throw came on her next-to-last attempt.
“I’m really excited,” said Cobb. “I just wanted to make finals. I wanted to finish higher than what I came in (as the 11th seed).”
Cobb had placed eighth in the event at the Drake Relays, where she tied the school record with a toss of 131-7.
“The weather is a little bit better than Drake honestly,” Cobb said. “It’s a little cold, but I like it a little colder instead of hot. I’m just excited about the season. I never thought I would get this far.”
Hannah Braun of Iowa City High won the event with a throw of 150-0 on her final attempt. Delilah Subsin of Ottumwa was second at 148-10.
Waukee Northwest could be well on its way to a second consecutive team crown. The Wolves have already racked up 40.5 points, 10 more than Cedar Falls.
Here are the rest of Ankeny and Centennial’s results from Thursday:
Discus: Elise Benning (AC), 119-10 (tied for 11th); Bella Anderson (AC), 106-8 (21st).
3,000: Blevins (AC), 10:14.66 (11th); Trinity Klingensmith (AC), 11:16.34 (24th).
200: Lena Bruening (A), 25.51 (13th).
4×800 relay: Ankeny (Ella Schulz, Vanessa Wise, Reagan Prendergast, Gillian Schramm), 9:44.77 (14th).
400: Jaeden Jackson (AC), 59.49 (14th); Schramm (A), 1:00.12 (17th); Kaelyn Rinehart (AC), 1:01.59 (23rd).
