Landon Pote proudly held on to the Class 4A championship trophy as his teammates on the Ankeny boys' track squad crowded around him on the infield turf at Drake Stadium. The Hawks had just won a second consecutive state title on Saturday in emphatic fashion. "I asked God for three things: for high jump to go better than last year, for shuttle hurdle to … [Read more...] about ‘I love these guys to death’: Ankeny boys overcome adversity to defend 4A crown
Boys' Track
Central Bank Athletes of the Month: Shuttle hurdle relay, Ankeny boys’ track
The Hawks run an all-time Iowa best of 56.06 seconds to win a state title in the event while helping Ankeny to a second consecutive Class 4A team crown. … [Read more...] about Central Bank Athletes of the Month: Shuttle hurdle relay, Ankeny boys’ track
Jaguars defend state title in 4×200 relay, break all-time mark in 4×100 preliminaries
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Noah Ross, Robert McGhee, Caleb Reed and Braeden Jackson got their all-time state record, but just not the one they were on the hunt for. The Ankeny Centennial quartet was on the cusp of setting the all-time record in the 4x200 relay after becoming the second team in Iowa high school history to run a time that was sub-1:26 … [Read more...] about Jaguars defend state title in 4×200 relay, break all-time mark in 4×100 preliminaries
Hawks defend their crown in 4×800 relay, score points in 3 other events to take lead
The Ankeny boys' quest for a second consecutive Class 4A track championship got off to a good start Thursday at Drake Stadium. The Hawks defended their title in the 4x800 relay, scored points in three other events and set a meet record in the preliminaries of the shuttle hurdle relay on the opening day of the coed state meet. Those efforts allowed … [Read more...] about Hawks defend their crown in 4×800 relay, score points in 3 other events to take lead
‘It was an absolute total team effort!’: Ankeny squads sweep crowns at SQM
It was a sweet repeat for the Ankeny track squads. The Hawks and Hawkettes swept the team titles in a Class 4A state qualifying meet on Thursday at Marshalltown. They duplicated last year's sweep at Council Bluffs. "It was an absolute total team effort!" said Ankeny boys' coach Jordan Mullen. "The boys are firing on all cylinders right now, and they … [Read more...] about ‘It was an absolute total team effort!’: Ankeny squads sweep crowns at SQM
Hawks claim 3 individual titles at CIML meet, focus more on defending 4A crown
(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
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