The Ankeny Centennial girls' track team has grown by more than 40 percent. "We have 115 kids out right now, up from 80 last year," said Centennial coach Andrew Kruzich. "We've had a massive jump, which is exciting and challenging." The Jaguars, who are slated to compete in the UNI Indoor Meet on Monday at Cedar Falls, placed 14th in last year's Class … [Read more...] about With 115 girls out and 12 state qualifiers returning, Jaguars have a lot of options
Girls' Track
‘I felt that UNI would really push me’: Centennial’s Hill to run for Panthers
Throughout most of her high school career, Ankeny Centennial senior Millie Hill thought she was going to play volleyball at the collegiate level. It wasn't until a few months ago that Hill discovered she had a greater passion for track. The two-sport athlete has now decided to join the Northern Iowa women's track and field program. She will be a … [Read more...] about ‘I felt that UNI would really push me’: Centennial’s Hill to run for Panthers
Centennial’s Cogdill named Assistant Coach of the Year for girls’ track
Ankeny Centennial assistant girls' track coach Eric Cogdill has been named Assistant Coach of the Year by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches. Cogdill helped the Jaguars to a 14th-place finish in the Class 4A state meet last month. He primarily coaches the team's distance runners. Last fall, Cogdill was named the Class 4A cross country coach of the … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Cogdill named Assistant Coach of the Year for girls’ track
‘I will never forget that moment’: Jaguars capture regional crown on DQ
For only the second time in school history, the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team captured a Class 4A regional title on Thursday at Urbandale. And the Jaguars did it in unexpected fashion. Centennial won the meet when Southeast Polk was disqualified in the final event, the 4x400 relay, for running on the lane lines. The Jaguars finished with 141.5 … [Read more...] about ‘I will never forget that moment’: Jaguars capture regional crown on DQ
‘It was great to be back at the Relays’: Centennial girls medal in 3 events
With the high school portion of the Drake Relays condensed into one day, the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team was forced to make some tough choices on Thursday. Two of the Jaguars' top individual qualifiers--Kathryn Vortherms in the 400 and Rondi Quass in the 3,000--decided to skip those races in order to focus on other events. And the strategy paid … [Read more...] about ‘It was great to be back at the Relays’: Centennial girls medal in 3 events
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Morgan Severseike, Centennial girls’ track
Senior Morgan Severseike is a sprinter on the Ankeny Centennial girls' track squad. She is also on the Jaguars' leadership team. On the track, Severseike has played a valuable role in various relay events. "At Johnston, we had a last-minute quarantine of a girl in the 4x200," said Centennial coach Andrew Kruzich. "We had to shuffle our lineup, and … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Morgan Severseike, Centennial girls’ track
Centennial girls stress ‘positivity’, earn runner-up finish at Oldham Invite
The theme this week for the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team is positivity. Tuesday's windy conditions provided a huge test for the Jaguars' mental toughness, but they were up to the challenge. Centennial placed second among seven teams in the Oldham Invitational at Johnston with 119 points. Waukee easily won the meet with 171 points. "It was a … [Read more...] about Centennial girls stress ‘positivity’, earn runner-up finish at Oldham Invite
Vortherms enjoys ‘huge day’, leads Jaguars to runner-up finish at Iowa City
Kathryn Vortherms will continue her track career at the University of Iowa next year. On Saturday, Vortherms traveled to the city of her future home and showed why the Hawkeyes offered her a scholarship. Competing in the Sherwood Relays at Iowa City High, Vortherms anchored Centennial's 4x800 relay to a victory in school-record time. She later placed … [Read more...] about Vortherms enjoys ‘huge day’, leads Jaguars to runner-up finish at Iowa City
Jaguars move outdoors for first time, win 7 events at Johnston Quadrangular
Andrew Kruzich knows a lot more about his Ankeny Centennial girls' track team than he did 24 hours ago. The Jaguars opened their outdoor season on Thursday by competing in the Johnston Quadrangular. They dominated some events and also performed very well in many others. "We had a good night," Kruzich said. "It was great to get outdoors and have a meet … [Read more...] about Jaguars move outdoors for first time, win 7 events at Johnston Quadrangular
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kathryn Vortherms, Centennial girls’ track
Senior Kathryn Vortherms is a four-time state placewinner for the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team. She helped the Jaguars to a 12th-place tie in the Class 4A state meet in 2019 before her junior season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a sophomore, Vortherms anchored the the sixth-place distance medley relay and the fifth-place sprint … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kathryn Vortherms, Centennial girls’ track
Quass places 2nd in 800 at Central Indoor Meet, ties school record
Ankeny Centennial's Rondi Quass has picked up right where she left off during the cross country season. Quass, a sophomore and one of the state's top distance runners, led the Jaguars to a third-place finish in the Class 4A state meet last fall. She placed 14th in a time of 18:54.4. On Saturday, Quass showed that she's ready for the outdoor track … [Read more...] about Quass places 2nd in 800 at Central Indoor Meet, ties school record
‘It’s been a long year without track”: Jags return 7 state qualifiers from 2019
Like many of the coaches in the spring sports, Andrew Kruzich has yet to set any goals for his Ankeny Centennial girls' track team. He's just happy to be back at practice with the Jaguars. "We haven't set particular goals yet--we just don't know enough about our team, or the rest of the state for that matter," said Kruzich. "We're just happy to be … [Read more...] about ‘It’s been a long year without track”: Jags return 7 state qualifiers from 2019
Ankeny, Centennial athletes compete at Iowa Track and Field Carnival
There's nothing that could replace having your entire track and field season wiped out by a global pandemic. But Mike Jay wanted to at least try something. Jay, the lead PA announcer for the Drake Relays and the high school state meet, organized a track and field meet for those Iowans who wanted an opportunity to compete after losing their season to … [Read more...] about Ankeny, Centennial athletes compete at Iowa Track and Field Carnival
Centennial’s Petersen earns scholarship from Track Guy Foundation
Ankeny Centennial track standout Katie Petersen is one of the recipients of the 2020 Track Guy Foundation Scholarship awards. Petersen was among 47 Iowa high school seniors involved in track and field and/or cross country who applied for the scholarship. From those applicants, seven winners were selected by the Foundation's Board of Directors. Each of … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Petersen earns scholarship from Track Guy Foundation
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Katie Petersen, Centennial girls’ track
Ankeny Centennial senior Katie Petersen is one of the state's top returning hurdlers. She placed fourth in the 100 hurdles at last year's Class 4A state meet in a time of 14.77 seconds. Petersen also ran on the fourth-place shuttle hurdle relay, the fifth-place sprint medley relay that set a school record and the sixth-place distance medley relay. The … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Katie Petersen, Centennial girls’ track
‘It just felt like where I was meant to be’: Petersen commits to Hawkeyes
The recruiting battle for Ankeny Centennial hurdler Katie Petersen started with an official visit to the University of Iowa. Iowa City is also where the fight for Petersen's services came to an end. Earlier this week, Petersen announced her verbal commitment to Iowa via Twitter. "(I) couldn't be more blessed and excited to announce I will be … [Read more...] about ‘It just felt like where I was meant to be’: Petersen commits to Hawkeyes
Petersen overcomes theft of her track shoes, shines brightly on national stage
Katie Petersen tried to look on the bright side after her run at the USATF Hershey's National Junior Olympics Track & Field Championships came to an end on Saturday in Sacramento. Petersen posted a time of 14.88 seconds in the semifinals of the 100 hurdles and placed 18th overall in the Women's 17-18 Division. Only the top eight finishers advanced to … [Read more...] about Petersen overcomes theft of her track shoes, shines brightly on national stage
VIDEO: Highlights from final day of coed state track meet
Four-time medalist Petersen leads Centennial girls to highest finish ever
The final day of the coed state track meet could not have gone much better for the Ankeny Centennial girls' squad. The Jaguars scored points in three more events and finished in a tie for 12th place in Class 4A with Ankeny and Johnston. All three squads finished with 22 points. It was Centennial's highest finish in school history, eclipsing a tie for … [Read more...] about Four-time medalist Petersen leads Centennial girls to highest finish ever
Centennial, Ankeny girls each score points in 2 events on Friday
Millie Hill has a love-hate relationship with the 400 hurdles. On Friday, the Ankeny Centennial sophomore placed fourth in the event at the girls' Class 4A state meet at Drake Stadium. She posted a time of 1:07.16. "I hate it, but I love it," Hill said. "It's sucky, but I like it. It takes a lot of grit. It goes by fast, so that's a plus." Caroline … [Read more...] about Centennial, Ankeny girls each score points in 2 events on Friday