Ankeny Fanatic

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Girls' Cross Country

Ankeny’s McMahon wins again, while Jaguars place 3rd at Bobcat Invitational

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The wet conditions didn't slow down the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team on Thursday. They didn't seem to bother Ankeny runner Lauren McMahon, either. McMahon raced to her second straight victory to lead the Hawkettes to a seventh-place finish in the Red Division of the Bobcat Invitational on Thursday at Marshalltown, while Centennial relied … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s McMahon wins again, while Jaguars place 3rd at Bobcat Invitational

‘She’s transformed a little bit’: Former thrower wins her first cross country race

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Ankeny senior Lauren McMahon surprised herself on Thursday at the DMACC cross country course. She surprised her opponents, too. McMahon cruised to an easy victory in her first varsity race, posting a time of 18 minutes 32 seconds on the 5K course. She finished 23 seconds ahead of Valley's Lauren Schulze. "I had no idea what to expect honestly," said … [Read more...] about ‘She’s transformed a little bit’: Former thrower wins her first cross country race

Hawkette runners are ‘social creatures’, but adjusting to COVID-19 restrictions

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The COVID-19 restrictions have created some challenges for the Ankeny girls' cross country team. Coach Eric Klingensmith said the camaraderie between the girls is a unique aspect of the sport--but something that has had to change during the global pandemic. "The practices are coming along smoothly, but the restrictions with our interactions are a bit … [Read more...] about Hawkette runners are ‘social creatures’, but adjusting to COVID-19 restrictions

Hentzel places 8th at Marshalltown, earns trip to state cross country meet

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Ankeny senior Tyler Hentzel was hoping to advance to the state cross country meet along with the rest of his team. He'll have to settle for a solo trip. Hentzel qualified for state by placing eighth in a Class 4A district meet on Thursday at Marshalltown. He posted a time of 16 minutes 38 seconds in the 5k race. "I'm really excited," said Hentzel. … [Read more...] about Hentzel places 8th at Marshalltown, earns trip to state cross country meet

Centennial girls take 2nd at conference meet, while Hawkettes finish 5th

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Kathryn Vortherms and the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team didn't want to focus on next week's state qualifying meet just yet. "We know where we're going (for the regional meet), but we don't know the teams there yet," Vortherms said. "We're not going to look until after conference." Vortherms placed fifth in the CIML Central Conference meet … [Read more...] about Centennial girls take 2nd at conference meet, while Hawkettes finish 5th

Centennial, Ankeny boys finish 1-2 at Atlantic Invite; Girls’ teams also shine

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The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial cross country teams badly needed to find a race after Thursday's Fort Dodge Invitational was cancelled due to bad weather. Fortunately, they were able to quickly find one. All four squads competed in the Atlantic Invitational on Saturday. The meet was contested in cold and windy conditions on a muddy course. "With … [Read more...] about Centennial, Ankeny boys finish 1-2 at Atlantic Invite; Girls’ teams also shine

Hawks place 8th, Hawkettes finish 9th at muddy S.E. Polk Invitational

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Thursday's Southeast Polk Invitational cross country meet was held despite wet conditions and cool temperatures. The muddy course forced the cancellation of the junior varsity races, but each varsity team was allowed to enter up to 10 runners. The Ankeny boys' squad placed eighth in the 14-team field with 200 points. The Ankeny girls' team finished ninth … [Read more...] about Hawks place 8th, Hawkettes finish 9th at muddy S.E. Polk Invitational

Ankeny teams turn in solid performances at Rim Rock Farm Country Classic

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A long trip to Lawrence, Kan., proved to be beneficial for the Ankeny cross country teams. Both the boys' and girls' squads competed in the Rim Rock Farm Country Classic on Saturday at the University of Kansas. Ankeny was one of 45 boys' teams participating in the Crimson Division, while the Hawkettes were among the 38 girls' squads in the field. "Our … [Read more...] about Ankeny teams turn in solid performances at Rim Rock Farm Country Classic

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Madeleine Murphy, Ankeny junior

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Junior Madeleine Murphy placed 87th in the Rim Rock Farm Country Classic on Saturday at Lawrence (Kan.), helping the Ankeny girls' cross country team to an 11th-place finish among 38 squads in the Crimson Division. She posted a time of 21 minutes 46 seconds in the 5k race. Murphy is also a starting outfielder on the Ankeny softball team. She batted .345 … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Madeleine Murphy, Ankeny junior

Hawks place 9th, Hawkettes finish 11th in strong fields at Rich Engel Classic

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The Ankeny cross country teams both finished in the middle of the pack in the Rich Engel Classic on Thursday at Birdsall Park in Cedar Falls. The Ankeny boys' squad placed ninth in the 21-team field. The Hawks finished with 206 points. "It was a very competitive field," said Ankeny boys' coach Jon Lindaman. "With all the rain that has fallen, we were … [Read more...] about Hawks place 9th, Hawkettes finish 11th in strong fields at Rich Engel Classic

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Cierra Fillinger, Ankeny girls’ cross country

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Senior Cierra Fillinger is a member of the Ankeny girls' cross country team. Fillinger placed eighth in the junior varsity race at the Ames Invitational on Sept. 5 with a time of 23 minutes 25 seconds. That allowed her to earn a varsity spot for the Rich Engel Classic on Thursday at Cedar Falls. "Cierra brings a constant positive influence to our … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Cierra Fillinger, Ankeny girls’ cross country

Vortherms leads Jaguars to runner-up finish; Ankeny girls place fourth

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Ankeny Centennial cross country runner Kathryn Vortherms had two different messages written on her arms for Tuesday's season-opening Centennial Invitational at DMACC. She wrote the word "positive" on her right arm. "I give up control" was written on her left arm. "It's a lyric from a song. It's for King & Country--one of their songs," Vortherms … [Read more...] about Vortherms leads Jaguars to runner-up finish; Ankeny girls place fourth

Experienced Hawkettes seeking first trip to Class 4A state meet since 2016

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The date of Nov. 2 is already circled on the calendar for the Ankeny girls' cross country runners. That's when the Class 4A state meet will be held at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge, and the Hawkettes are planning to be there as competitors. Ankeny has placed fourth in the regional meet in each of the last two years, falling just short of qualifying for … [Read more...] about Experienced Hawkettes seeking first trip to Class 4A state meet since 2016

Ankeny’s Sindt looks to defend his Class 4A title on Saturday

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All eyes will be on Tim Sindt Saturday as the Ankeny senior tries to win a second consecutive boys' Class 4A state cross country title in Fort Dodge. Sindt won last year's race in a time of 15 minutes 23.7 seconds. He has easily won all seven of his races this season, including the Ankeny Centennial Invitational on Oct. 4 at DMACC, where he became the … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Sindt looks to defend his Class 4A title on Saturday

Hawks advance to state meet for 3rd consecutive year

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Thursday's state-qualifying cross country meet at Indianola pretty much went according to form. The three ranked teams in both the girls' and boys' divisions qualified for the state meet in Fort Dodge. The sixth-ranked Ankeny boys' squad advanced for the third straight year with a second-place finish. "Our guys were excited to get out and compete," … [Read more...] about Hawks advance to state meet for 3rd consecutive year

Centennial girls earn another trip to state; Jonah Vicker also qualifies

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team is headed back to the Class 4A state meet. The Jaguars will be joined in Fort Dodge by Centennial senior Jonah Vicker, who qualified for the boys' meet as an individual by placing fourth in a district meet on Thursday at Marshalltown. Vicker watched the state meet a year ago as his brother, Gabriel, … [Read more...] about Centennial girls earn another trip to state; Jonah Vicker also qualifies

Sindt, Ankeny to run at Indianola; Jaguars head to Marshalltown

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Ankeny senior Tim Sindt will continue his quest for an undefeated cross country season when the Hawks compete in a Class 4A state qualifying meet on Thursday at Pickard Park in Indianola. Sindt, the defending Class 4A champion, is the state's top-ranked runner. He has yet to lose a race this season. The sixth-ranked Hawks will be one of 10 teams in the … [Read more...] about Sindt, Ankeny to run at Indianola; Jaguars head to Marshalltown

Jaguars, Hawkettes run well at conference, gear up for regionals

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When the CIML Central Conference cross country meet was moved to Southeast Polk, it forced many of the girls' teams to reconsider their strategy. The Central Conference teams ran in the same race on Thursday along with the six schools from the CIML Iowa Conference. Separate conference champions were crowned, even though the combined results were also … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawkettes run well at conference, gear up for regionals

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Brooke Johnson, Ankeny girls’ cross country

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Brooke Johnson of the Ankeny girls' cross country team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Johnson, a junior, helped the Hawkettes to a fifth-place finish in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Sept. 27. She placed 29th in the 5k race with a time of 23 minutes 8 seconds. Ankeny will compete in the CIML Central Conference meet … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Brooke Johnson, Ankeny girls’ cross country