The first-year coach guides the Hawks to a runner-up finish in the Class 4A state meet after an epic battle against CIML rival Johnston. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Coach of the Month: Jordan Mullen, Ankeny boys’ track
Boys' Track
THE CIML RULES: Johnston boys edge Hawks in epic battle for Class 4A crown
It was an epic battle that neither team deserved to lose. In the end, though, the Ankeny boys' track squad was nosed out for the Class 4A state championship by one of its CIML rivals. Johnston edged the Hawks in the final two events, the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, to capture the title on a sunny Saturday at Drake Stadium. The Dragons racked up 84 points, … [Read more...] about THE CIML RULES: Johnston boys edge Hawks in epic battle for Class 4A crown
Ankeny boys place 3rd in DMR, 4×200 relays, stay in Class 4A title contention
A pair of top-three finishes helped keep the Ankeny boys' track team in contention for the Class 4A state title on Friday at Drake Stadium. The Hawks sit in fourth place with 30 points heading into the final day of the meet. Johnston leads the Class 4A field with 47 points, followed by Linn-Mar (Marion) with 45 and Iowa City High with 41. There are … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys place 3rd in DMR, 4×200 relays, stay in Class 4A title contention
‘It’s something I’ll never forget’: Ankeny’s Belding races to 4A state crown in 400
A year ago, Ankeny's Jack Belding watched as teammate Tyrese Miller raced to a victory in the 400 at the Class 4A state meet. On Thursday at Drake Stadium, Belding accomplished the same feat. The junior came out of Lane 2 to win the event in a time of 47.94 seconds. He nearly broke the school record of 47.91 that Miller set at last year's Drake … [Read more...] about ‘It’s something I’ll never forget’: Ankeny’s Belding races to 4A state crown in 400
Coed state track qualifiers announced: Ankeny girls’ team advances in 17 events
The coed state track qualifiers have been announced by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The Ankeny girls' team has qualified in 17 events, one more than the Ankeny boys' squad. Both Ankeny Centennial teams have qualified in 12 events. Here are all of the qualifiers from Ankeny and Centennial, … [Read more...] about Coed state track qualifiers announced: Ankeny girls’ team advances in 17 events
‘We took care of business’: Ankeny teams score 193 points, place 2nd at SQM
A long bus ride to Council Bluffs turned into a successful business trip for the Ankeny track teams. Both the Hawks and Hawkettes scored 193 points and placed second among eight teams in a Class 4A state qualifying meet on Thursday at Wickersham Stadium. More importantly, both Ankeny squads qualified for next week's state meet in a combined 33 … [Read more...] about ‘We took care of business’: Ankeny teams score 193 points, place 2nd at SQM
Hawks break school record in 4×100 relay, while Zuber sets mark in 800
Ankeny boys' track coach Jordan Mullen didn't want to overwork his athletes with two more championship meets on the schedule. The Hawks placed fourth in the CIML Conference meet on Thursday at Valley--even though they rested a few of their top performers. They finished with 88 points. "I was very happy with the results," said Mullen. "This four-week … [Read more...] about Hawks break school record in 4×100 relay, while Zuber sets mark in 800
Accola visits UNI, verbally commits to join Panthers’ track and field program
Ankeny senior Carter Accola visited the Northern Iowa campus on Monday. The standout hurdler was impressed with what he saw. Accola verbally committed to join the UNI men's track and field program next season. "I was on the fence between them and South Dakota State," Accola said. "Just the proximity to my hometown and how invited the coaching staff … [Read more...] about Accola visits UNI, verbally commits to join Panthers’ track and field program
THE DROUGHT ENDS: Hawks claim their first Drake relay crown since 2004
The four members of the Ankeny boys' 4x400 relay team weren't even alive the last time that the Hawks won a relay crown at the Drake Relays. The school's 19-year drought ended on Saturday as Bram van de Mortel, Tyson Miller, Jack Belding and Jake Bosch teamed up to win the final event of America's Athletic Classic in a time of 3:19.19. Ankeny had not won … [Read more...] about THE DROUGHT ENDS: Hawks claim their first Drake relay crown since 2004
‘This is just a warmup for state’: Hawks’ blazing speed on full display at Relays
Taking advantage of the perfect weather conditions, Ankeny's duo of Tyler Sickerson and Jack Belding both qualified for the final in the boys' 100-meter dash at the Drake Relays on Friday morning. Sickerson won his preliminary heat in a time of 10.70 seconds. Belding was third in the same heat in 10.84 and also advanced. "I came out here today focusing … [Read more...] about ‘This is just a warmup for state’: Hawks’ blazing speed on full display at Relays
‘I really just wanted to push myself’: Zuber places 4th, breaks school record
Ethan Zuber didn't know how fast he was running around the blue oval on Thursday afternoon. The lack of awareness paid off for the Ankeny sophomore. Zuber raced to a fourth-place finish in the boys' 3,200 in the Drake Relays at Drake Stadium. He posted a time of 9:11.58, which set a school record. "I really just wanted to push myself as much as I … [Read more...] about ‘I really just wanted to push myself’: Zuber places 4th, breaks school record
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 222
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm previews the Drake Relays with senior Sam Dietz and sophomore Kylin Smith of Ankeny Centennial and sophomore Tyler Sickerson and junior Lillian Smith of Ankeny. Coldwell Banker realtor Tiffany Rumelhart also makes an appearance. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 222
Hawks finish 1-2 in 400 hurdles, place 6th overall at North Polk Relays
The Ankeny boys' track team placed sixth among eight squads in the North Polk Relays on Tuesday. The Hawks finished with 63.5 points. The host Comets won the meet with 169.5 points. Johnston was second with 128. Ankeny swept the top two places in the 400 hurdles. Maxwell Doyle won the race in 58.30 seconds, while teammate Jet Bergwall was the runner-up … [Read more...] about Hawks finish 1-2 in 400 hurdles, place 6th overall at North Polk Relays
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Carter Accola, Ankeny boys’ track
Senior Carter Accola of the Ankeny boys' track team is one of the state's top hurdlers. He currently ranks second in Class 4A in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.40 seconds. Accola placed fourth in that event at last year's state meet. He also ran on the fifth-place shuttle hurdle relay, helping the Hawks to a third-place overall finish. Here is some … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Carter Accola, Ankeny boys’ track
High school qualifiers for 2023 Drake Relays announced
High school qualifiers for the Drake Relays have been announced. The Ankeny boys' track team qualified in a total of 12 events, but one of the Hawks' top qualifiers will not be competing. Senior Carter Accola, the second-fastest qualifier in the 110 hurdles, is nursing a minor injury and will not run. (See Monday's Prep of the Week feature for more on the … [Read more...] about High school qualifiers for 2023 Drake Relays announced
Akers wins long jump, Jaguars capture 4×200 relay at Waukee Invitational
On a Thursday night when the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' track teams both entered partial lineups at the Waukee Invitational, a few individuals stood out for the Hawks and Jaguars. Ankeny's Devon Akers won the long jump with a leap of 22 feet 1 inch. Centennial's Jeremiah Bassett took fifth in that event with a jump of 21-1. "Devon hit the Blue … [Read more...] about Akers wins long jump, Jaguars capture 4×200 relay at Waukee Invitational
Ankeny boys win 4 events en route to Hawk Relays crown; Jaguars place 6th
The Ankeny boys' track team topped a field that included defending Class 4A state champion Dowling Catholic to win the Fred Smith Hawk Relays on Tuesday at Northview Stadium. The Hawks won four events and racked up 86 points, 14 more than runner-up Waukee Northwest. Dowling and Waukee tied for third place with 70 points apiece. Ankeny earned its third … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys win 4 events en route to Hawk Relays crown; Jaguars place 6th
Jim Duncan Invite recap: Belding wins 400, Centennial boys take 4×200 relay
Mother Nature brought an early end to the Jim Duncan Invitational on Saturday at Drake Stadium, but not before all four of the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' and girls' track teams turned in some strong performances. The meet was delayed for 30 minutes due to lightning after more than half of the events had been completed. Action later resumed on the … [Read more...] about Jim Duncan Invite recap: Belding wins 400, Centennial boys take 4×200 relay
Hawks sweep top 2 places in high jump, finish 7th overall at DouBrava Invite
The Ankeny boys' track team rested many of its top athletes on Tuesday with the Jim Duncan Invitational coming up on Saturday at Drake Stadium. The Hawks placed seventh in the DouBrava Invitational at Urbandale. They finished with 31 points. Ankeny swept the top two places in the high jump. Landon Pote and Mason Randolph both cleared the bar at 5 feet … [Read more...] about Hawks sweep top 2 places in high jump, finish 7th overall at DouBrava Invite
Ankeny boys edge Johnston to win Brooks Relays crown; Jaguars finish 5th
The Ankeny boys' track team was looking to make some noise on Saturday in the Brooks Relays at Valley. The Hawks' superlative performance could likely be heard across the state. Ankeny won the 12-team meet with 122 points, edging runner-up Johnston by three points. Iowa City High, which won last year's meet, took third with 92.5 points. "I'm very … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys edge Johnston to win Brooks Relays crown; Jaguars finish 5th