A total of 40 boys' and girls' cross country teams competed in the Bobcat Invitational on Thursday at Marshalltown Community College, including both Ankeny squads and the Ankeny Centennial boys' team. The fourth-ranked Jaguars placed fourth among 23 squads in the boys' division with 151 points. "It was another confidence-building race for us," … [Read more...] about Centennial boys, Ankeny teams turn in strong races at ‘competitive’ Bobcat Invite
Chad Fickbohm
Centennial boys win Jaguar Invitational for their first team crown since 2020 season
The Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country runners may have surprised some of the other teams on Tuesday. The 17th-ranked Jaguars opened their season by winning the Jaguar Invitational at DMACC. They scored a total of 49 points when the results of the two boys' races were combined. It was Centennial's first team title since the 2020 season, when the … [Read more...] about Centennial boys win Jaguar Invitational for their first team crown since 2020 season
‘This team will be solid’: Centennial boys’ squad boasts 4 returning varsity regulars
After just missing last year's state meet, the Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team will be looking to return to Fort Dodge in 2025. The Jaguars are seeking their fifth trip to the state meet in school history. They previously qualified in 2015, 2020, 2021 and 2023. Centennial placed ninth in Class 4A in 2020, its highest finish ever. That … [Read more...] about ‘This team will be solid’: Centennial boys’ squad boasts 4 returning varsity regulars
Centennial’s Vander Wilt, Moll nearly cross finish line together in boys’ Class 4A race
It wasn't planned, but the Ankeny Centennial duo of Brayden Vander Wilt and Cohen Moll nearly crossed the finish line together during the boys' Class 4A state cross country meet on Friday at Fort Dodge. Vander Wilt, a senior, closed out his career with a 73rd-place finish. He posted a time of 16:39.6 on the 5K course. "I don't knew where I finished, … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Vander Wilt, Moll nearly cross finish line together in boys’ Class 4A race
Jaguars win 4th straight SQM, advance to state along with Centennial boys’ duo
The seniors on the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team are used to winning. The Jaguars did it again on Wednesday. Fourth-ranked Centennial easily won a Class 4A regional meet at Marshalltown, scoring a total of 29 points. No. 10 Dallas Center-Grimes (48 points) and No. 15 Davenport Central (74 points) also advanced to state. "It's really a … [Read more...] about Jaguars win 4th straight SQM, advance to state along with Centennial boys’ duo
‘I really wanted to focus on the hills’: Zuber wins his 2nd straight CIML crown
Check off another box for Ankeny runner Ethan Zuber. The senior easily defended his boys' title in the CIML Conference cross country meet on Wednesday, covering the 5K course at Southeast Polk in a time of 15 minutes 30.6 seconds. He finished about 11 seconds ahead of the Dowling Catholic duo of Owen Wolfe and Jack Flori. "That was the focus for me," … [Read more...] about ‘I really wanted to focus on the hills’: Zuber wins his 2nd straight CIML crown
Centennial boys finish ahead of Hawks at Fort Dodge despite another win by Zuber
For the second time this season, the Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team defeated its crosstown rival. The 13th-ranked Jaguars placed fourth among 28 teams in the Fort Dodge Invitational on Thursday with 184 points. No. 5 Ankeny took fifth with 205 points. It was the first meeting between the two teams since the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on … [Read more...] about Centennial boys finish ahead of Hawks at Fort Dodge despite another win by Zuber
Centennial cross country teams race to 3rd-place finishes in Williams Invitational
The Ankeny Centennial cross country teams raced to third-place finishes in the Bud Williams Invitational on Thursday at the Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City. The Centennial girls' squad lost to opponents from Iowa for the first time this season. The third-ranked Jaguars had won their first three meets of the year before placing fourth in the Gold … [Read more...] about Centennial cross country teams race to 3rd-place finishes in Williams Invitational
‘It was a good day all around’: Centennial boys place 3rd at Indianola Invitational
The Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team placed third in the Indianola Invitational on Thursday for the second year in a row. The 17th-ranked Jaguars finished with 72 points in the 13-team field. The meet was held at Pickard Park. "It was a good day all around for us," said Centennial coach Chad Fickbohm. "What we really liked about this meet is … [Read more...] about ‘It was a good day all around’: Centennial boys place 3rd at Indianola Invitational
‘Learning experience’: Jaguars place 8th among 18 squads at Heartland Classic
The Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team earned an eighth-place finish in the Heartland Classic on Saturday at Pella. The 16th-ranked Jaguars finished with 202 points in the 18-team field. "We are using these races as learning experiences," said Centennial coach Chad Fickbohm. "I felt we got out and put ourselves in a really good position. We … [Read more...] about ‘Learning experience’: Jaguars place 8th among 18 squads at Heartland Classic
Zuber races to season-opening victory, while Jaguars earn runner-up finish
Ankeny's Ethan Zuber made a strong statement in his first cross country race of the season. The Ankeny Centennial boys' team also made a huge impression. Zuber, the defending Class 4A state champion, raced to a victory in the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on Thursday at the Iowa State cross country course in Ames. He posted a time of 14 minutes 56.5 … [Read more...] about Zuber races to season-opening victory, while Jaguars earn runner-up finish
Schermerhorn departs, but Centennial boys return quartet of varsity regulars
It won't be easy for the Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team to replace standout runner AJ Schermerhorn. But if the Jaguars want to earn another trip to the Class 4A state meet, they'll have to find a way. Schermerhorn was a three-time state qualifier and a two-time placewinner who helped Centennial to 14th-place finishes in Class 4A in 2021 and … [Read more...] about Schermerhorn departs, but Centennial boys return quartet of varsity regulars
Zuber races to Class 4A individual crown, leads Hawks to repeat 3rd-place finish
Ethan Zuber made a promise to Ankeny boys' cross country coach Jon Lindaman a year ago that he would become a Class 4A state champion in 2023. The junior delivered on that promise Friday at the Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge.The second-ranked Zuber pulled away from No. 3 Jaden Merrick of Cedar Falls in the final mile to win the 5k race in a time of 15 … [Read more...] about Zuber races to Class 4A individual crown, leads Hawks to repeat 3rd-place finish
‘It was a really fun night’: Jaguars place 2nd at district meet, earn 4th trip to state
The Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team is headed to the state meet for the third time in four years and the fourth time in school history. The 12th-ranked Jaguars placed second in a Class 4A district meet on Wednesday at the Ashton cross country course in Iowa City. They finished with 60 points. "We are looking forward to next Friday," said … [Read more...] about ‘It was a really fun night’: Jaguars place 2nd at district meet, earn 4th trip to state
Zuber continues his dominance, leads Hawks past No. 1 Dowling for league title
Ethan Zuber continued his dominance on Wednesday, and the Ankeny boys' cross country team took a big step forward. Zuber raced to a victory in the CIML Conference meet at DMACC, and his win helped fourth-ranked Ankeny to the league crown. The Hawks scored 60 points to finish two points ahead of No. 1 Dowling Catholic, the defending champion and the … [Read more...] about Zuber continues his dominance, leads Hawks past No. 1 Dowling for league title
Centennial teams place 3rd at Williams Invite; Schermerhorn earns another win
The Ankeny Centennial cross country teams both earned third-place finishes in the Bud Williams Invitational on Thursday at the University of Iowa's Ashton Cross Country Course. In the girls' division, second-ranked Dubuque Senior won the team title for the third straight year, finishing with 45 points. No. 4 Pleasant Valley was second in the 10-team field … [Read more...] about Centennial teams place 3rd at Williams Invite; Schermerhorn earns another win
Centennial girls place 2nd, boys finish 3rd at Indianola Invite without top runners
Despite competing at less than full strength, the Ankeny Centennial cross country teams turned in some strong performances in the Indianola Invitational on Thursday at Pickard Park. The sixth-ranked Jaguars placed second among 10 girls' teams with 68 points. No. 14 Indianola won the team title with 36 points. "I think we're doing really well," said … [Read more...] about Centennial girls place 2nd, boys finish 3rd at Indianola Invite without top runners
Hawks place 4th, Jaguars finish 5th at Schmaltz Invite; Zuber races to victory
Only seven points separated the top four boys' teams in the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on Monday at the Iowa State cross country course in Ames. Ninth-ranked Norwalk scored 86 points to defend its title, while No. 5 Valley took second in the 13-team field with 89. No. 11 Waukee Northwest and No. 2 Ankeny both finished with 93 points, but the Wolves placed … [Read more...] about Hawks place 4th, Jaguars finish 5th at Schmaltz Invite; Zuber races to victory
State placewinner Schermerhorn, 3 other varsity regulars are back for Jaguars
A year ago, Ankeny Centennial's AJ Schermerhorn earned a spot on the awards podium at the Class 4A state cross country meet, placing 12th in the 5k race with a time of 15:59.52. However, Schermerhorn competed in the meet as an individual after the Jaguars failed to qualify as a team. This year, Schermerhorn is hoping to be joined on the Fort Dodge … [Read more...] about State placewinner Schermerhorn, 3 other varsity regulars are back for Jaguars
Schermerhorn races to 12th-place finish, becoming 2nd Jaguar to medal at state
When Ankeny Centennial's AJ Schermerhorn crossed the finish line in 97th place at last year's boys' Class 4A state cross country meet, he wasn't satisfied with his performance. On Saturday, the junior made up for it. Schermerhorn earned a spot on the awards podium with a 12th-place finish in the 5k race at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. He posted … [Read more...] about Schermerhorn races to 12th-place finish, becoming 2nd Jaguar to medal at state