(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny boys' track team knows what it takes to reach the top, and the Hawks are just making sure the pieces are in place to do so. The defending Class 4A state champion Hawks earned three individual titles while placing fourth overall with 101 points during the CIML Conference meet on Thursday at Ankeny Stadium. “The … [Read more...] about Hawks claim 3 individual titles at CIML meet, focus more on defending 4A crown
Boys' Track
Ankeny girls’ track team wins 8 events, Hawks earn 7 victories at Valley Relays
The Ankeny boys' and girls' track teams combined for 15 first-place finishes in the Valley Relays on Friday. The meet, which was unscored, had been postponed earlier this season. Makenna Madetzke provided two of the Hawkettes' eight victories. She won the 3,000 in a time of 10:31.70 and the 1,500 in 4:49.18. Coach TJ Jumper's team swept the jumping … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ track team wins 8 events, Hawks earn 7 victories at Valley Relays
Ankeny boys get victories from Haase, Tomlinson, Sickerson at North Polk Relays
Using only a partial lineup, the Ankeny boys' track team placed sixth among seven squads in the North Polk Relays on Tuesday. The Hawks scored 70 points. Ballard (Huxley) won the meet with 136 points. North Polk finished second with 115. Ankeny focused most of its attention on some of the individual events. The Hawks had three first-place finishes, two … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys get victories from Haase, Tomlinson, Sickerson at North Polk Relays
Ankeny boys’ track squad ties for 3rd place in 2025 Drake Relays Cup standings
The Ankeny boys' track team tied for third place in the 2025 Drake Relays Cup standings. Both the Hawks and Cedar Falls scored 15 points. Johnston broke a 20-point tie with Dowling Catholic via a better 4x200 placement to win the boys' contest. The Dragons will be honored on the final day of the state track meet on May 24 along with girls' winner Waukee … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys’ track squad ties for 3rd place in 2025 Drake Relays Cup standings
‘We’re excited to see where we stack up’: Jaguars, Hawks look ahead to state meet
Over the course of three days at the Drake Relays, the Ankeny Centennial boys' track team showed that the Jaguars will be a force at next month's Class 4A state meet. "I'm really confident in me and my teammates' ability to come out and compete with the best of them," said Centennial senior Braeden Jackson, who ran on the third-place 4x100 and … [Read more...] about ‘We’re excited to see where we stack up’: Jaguars, Hawks look ahead to state meet
‘It’s a great feeling’: Ankeny boys defend their Drake Relays crown in 4×800 relay
The boys' 4x800 relay at the Drake Relays on Saturday didn't exactly go according to plan for defending champion Ankeny. The Hawks were in second place when their third runner, Justice Rathje, fell onto the track while handing the baton to teammate Ethan Zuber. "I was just trying not to fall over that last 300 (meters) when that Cedar Falls guy passed … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a great feeling’: Ankeny boys defend their Drake Relays crown in 4×800 relay
‘We just had to run our own race’: Jaguars break Drake Relays record in 4×200 relay
Friday's session of the Drake Relays produced many memorable moments on a cool and overcast day, including a record-setting performance by the Ankeny Centennial boys' track team. The Jaguars raced to a victory in the 4x200 relay in a meet-record time of 1:26.55, finishing .56 seconds ahead of runner-up Newton. It was one of five high school marks that … [Read more...] about ‘We just had to run our own race’: Jaguars break Drake Relays record in 4×200 relay
‘I love the energy’: Beason, Mohrhauser run last Relays races; Zuber places 3rd
For the first seven laps of the boys' 3,200 at the Drake Relays on Thursday, it appeared that Ankeny senior Ethan Zuber and Cedar Falls junior Jaden Merrick could be headed for another scintillating finish on the blue oval. Merrick and Zuber ran 1-2 almost the entire way--just like they did last year, when Zuber surged to the lead on the final lap before … [Read more...] about ‘I love the energy’: Beason, Mohrhauser run last Relays races; Zuber places 3rd
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 302
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Legacy Realty of Iowa and Revive Dermatology Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm previews the Drake Relays with senior Ethan Zuber of the Ankeny boys' track team, senior Cael Woods and sophomore Anna Woods of the Ankeny Centennial squads, and junior Charlee Cibula of the Ankeny girls' … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 302
High school qualifiers announced for 115th running of Drake Relays
The high school qualifiers for the 115th Drake Relays have been announced. All four of the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial squads will be well represented. Here are all of the Ankeny and Centennial qualifiers: BOYS 4x100 relay: Ankeny, Centennial 4x200 relay: Centennial 4x400 relay: Ankeny, Centennial 4x800 relay: Ankeny, Centennial Shuttle … [Read more...] about High school qualifiers announced for 115th running of Drake Relays
Hawks cruise to fast times on home track, qualify for Drake in 4×800, 4×400 relays
The Ankeny boys' track team focused on a handful of events during the Fred Smith Hawk Relays on Tuesday at Ankeny Stadium. The Hawks, who didn't even enter three of the relays, won four events and placed fifth overall in the 10-team field. They finished with 73 points. Dowling Catholic and Waukee each scored 110 points to tie for the team title. "It … [Read more...] about Hawks cruise to fast times on home track, qualify for Drake in 4×800, 4×400 relays
Jaguars close out Duncan Invitational by edging Ankeny boys to win 4×400 relay
The final race in the Jim Duncan Invitational on Saturday turned into a battle between the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' track teams at Drake Stadium. The Jaguars got a strong anchor leg from Cael Woods to win the 4x400 relay in a time of 3:25.89. Jackson Reed, Caleb Reed and Braeden Jackson ran the first three legs for Centennial. The Ankeny … [Read more...] about Jaguars close out Duncan Invitational by edging Ankeny boys to win 4×400 relay
Tomlinson, Pote earn victories as Hawks shine in field events at Urbandale Invite
The Ankeny boys' track team is well known for its collection of outstanding sprinters, hurdlers and distance runners. But the Hawks are pretty strong in the field events as well. Ankeny scored a total of 25 points in the jumping and throwing events at the Urbandale Invitational on Tuesday. There were no official results beyond those four events because … [Read more...] about Tomlinson, Pote earn victories as Hawks shine in field events at Urbandale Invite
Jaguars edge Pella by 7 points to win Ram Relays, while Ankeny boys also shine
The Ankeny Centennial boys' track team emerged with a victory in the Ram Relays on Thursday at Southeast Polk. It wasn't a bad night for Ankeny, either. While the Hawks won three events and placed fourth in the nine-team field with 105 points, Centennial racked up six first-place finishes and claimed the team title with 138 points. The Jaguars finished … [Read more...] about Jaguars edge Pella by 7 points to win Ram Relays, while Ankeny boys also shine
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 299
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Legacy Realty of Iowa and Revive Dermatology Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the boys’ track season thus far with coach Jordan Mullen and junior hurdler Hayden Carlson of Ankeny. Realtor Ronda Dix also makes an appearance. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 299
Carlson breaks school record in hurdles, qualifies for Drake along with Zuber
Two days after helping the Ankeny boys' shuttle hurdle relay team to a school record, junior Hayden Carlson set another mark on Saturday. Carlson raced to a second-place finish in the 110 hurdles at the Ruth Marske Indoor Invitational, which was held at South Dakota State University. He posted a time of 14.36 seconds. Teammates Gavin Wise (15.64) and … [Read more...] about Carlson breaks school record in hurdles, qualifies for Drake along with Zuber
Jaguars win 9 events at Early Bird Relays; Hawks ‘set the tone’ in shuttle hurdle
Both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' track teams made some strong statements on Thursday at the Waukee Northwest Early Bird Relays. No team scores were kept, but the Jaguars turned in a dominant performance. They won nine events, including four relays. The Hawks, meanwhile, had three victories--and two of them were particularly impressive. Ethan … [Read more...] about Jaguars win 9 events at Early Bird Relays; Hawks ‘set the tone’ in shuttle hurdle
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Landon Pote, Ankeny boys’ track
Senior Landon Pote is one of 12 returning state qualifiers for the Ankeny boys' track team. He helped the Hawks to the Class 4A championship a year ago for the program's first state title since 1972. Pote placed third in the high jump with a leap of 6 feet 3 inches and finished seventh in the 110 hurdles in 15.08 seconds. He also teamed up with Sam … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Landon Pote, Ankeny boys’ track
Zuber wins 1,600 at IATC Championships, meets Blue Oval Standard for Drake
Ankeny track standout Ethan Zuber showed on Thursday that he's already in mid-season form. Zuber won the 1,600 with a time of 4:12.75 in the IATC Indoor Championships at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center in Ames. He edged runner-up Owen Wolfe of Dowling Catholic by .25 seconds. Zuber met the Blue Oval Standard for the Drake Relays. He nearly … [Read more...] about Zuber wins 1,600 at IATC Championships, meets Blue Oval Standard for Drake
‘It’s time to make some noise!’: Hawks appear loaded for another run at 4A title
Ankeny boys' track coach Jordan Mullen has already put 2024 behind him. The Hawks' record-setting performance in last year's Class 4A state meet won't mean anything when the 2025 season begins on Thursday with the ISU Indoor Meet at Ames. "In our preseason meeting I spoke about last year with the kids and how special of a year it was, and how that … [Read more...] about ‘It’s time to make some noise!’: Hawks appear loaded for another run at 4A title