After getting a week off, the Ankeny Centennial boys' and girls' cross country teams returned to action on Tuesday at the Knoxville Invitational. Both squads earned second-place finishes. In the boys' division, ninth-ranked Norwalk claimed the team title with 32 points, edging No. 10 Centennial by three points. No. 12 Urbandale was a distant third in … [Read more...] about Centennial boys, girls race to runner-up finishes at Knoxville Invitational
Chad Fickbohm
Vicker wins 3rd straight race, leads Centennial boys to runner-up finish
The temperatures were nearly ideal for the Tom Karpen Invitational cross country meet on Tuesday. Ankeny Centennial's Gabriel Vicker took advantage of the weather conditions to remain unbeaten on the season. Vicker won his third consecutive race in 2020, pulling away from the field at Valley Southwoods Freshman High School to cover the 5k course in a … [Read more...] about Vicker wins 3rd straight race, leads Centennial boys to runner-up finish
Jaguars, Vicker race past Johnston, Yual to win Bobcat Invitational crowns
Thursday's Bobcat Invitational at Marshalltown Community College provided a huge challenge for the Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team. The Jaguars passed with flying colors. After moving up to 11th in the latest Class 4A rankings, Centennial posted its second victory in two weeks by winning the nine-team Red Division with 40 points. The Jaguars … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Vicker race past Johnston, Yual to win Bobcat Invitational crowns
Vicker, Jaguars race to easy victories in season opener on DMACC course
The Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team was 15th in the Class 4A preseason rankings. The Jaguars may have been underrated by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches. Centennial opened its season on Thursday with an impressive victory over four other teams at DMACC. The meet was part of the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational that was hosted by Ames. The … [Read more...] about Vicker, Jaguars race to easy victories in season opener on DMACC course
Led by trio of returning state qualifiers, Jaguars seek first trip as team since 2015
The runners on the Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team aren't taking the 2020 season for granted. "We have to view every day as a gift as we know the season could be shut down for us at any time, and we truly want to take advantage of our opportunities," said Centennial coach Chad Fickbohm. There are 80 boys on the team's roster. The Jaguars are … [Read more...] about Led by trio of returning state qualifiers, Jaguars seek first trip as team since 2015
While Vicker overcomes illness, Hentzel drops out of 4A race due to injury
A few weeks ago, Ankeny Centennial's Gabriel Vicker made a friendly wager with Ankeny's Tyler Hentzel on which of the two runners would finish higher at the boys' Class 4A state cross country meet. The winner of the bet would receive some ice cream courtesy of his crosstown rival. Unfortunately, neither of them were at their best during Saturday's race in … [Read more...] about While Vicker overcomes illness, Hentzel drops out of 4A race due to injury
Centennial advances 3 boys, 2 girls to state cross country meet
The cutoff point to qualify for the state cross country meet can leave runners feeling exhilarated or devastated. The Ankeny Centennial squads experienced both ends of the spectrum during Thursday's state qualifying meet at Council Bluffs. While the Centennial boys' team qualified three runners for the state meet, including a pair who earned the last … [Read more...] about Centennial advances 3 boys, 2 girls to state cross country meet
State cross country berths on the line at Marshalltown, Council Bluffs
A trip to the state meet will be at stake on Thursday for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial cross country teams. The Ankeny squads will travel to Marshalltown for a Class 4A state qualifying meet, while the Centennial teams will head to Council Bluffs. The girls' races begin at 4 p.m., with the boys' races to follow. The ninth-ranked Centennial girls' … [Read more...] about State cross country berths on the line at Marshalltown, Council Bluffs
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Nate Burns, Ankeny Centennial boys’ cross country
Junior Nate Burns is a member of the Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team. Burns has improved throughout the season and eventually earned a varsity spot for the Jaguars. He placed 39th in the CIML Central Conference meet on Thursday at DMACC, helping Centennial to a fifth-place finish. "Nate has dedicated himself to cross country and has really … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Nate Burns, Ankeny Centennial boys’ cross country
Jaguars, Hawks run well in final tune-up before next week’s district meets
Thursday's CIML Central Conference meet provided one last tune-up before next week's district meet for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country teams. The Jaguars placed fifth in the six-team field at DMACC with 117 points. They finished 12 points behind 11th-ranked Urbandale, one of the teams they'll compete against at the Council Bluffs … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawks run well in final tune-up before next week’s district meets
Centennial runners battle Mother Nature at Iowa City West Invitational
The Ankeny Centennial cross country teams faced some strong competition on Tuesday at the Iowa City West Invitational. The Jaguars were also in a race against Mother Nature. The meet schedule was rearranged in an effort to get both varsity races in before some bad weather was expected to hit the Iowa City area. That strategy was only partly … [Read more...] about Centennial runners battle Mother Nature at Iowa City West Invitational
Centennial girls race to victory at Indianola Invite for 4th time in 5 years
A strong pack of runners lifted the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team to the Indianola Invitational title on Thursday at Pickard Park. The eighth-ranked Jaguars placed all seven of their runners in the top 16 and finished with 39 points. They won the crown for the fourth time in five years. Indianola placed second in the nine-team field with … [Read more...] about Centennial girls race to victory at Indianola Invite for 4th time in 5 years
Vicker pulls away for victory, leads Centennial boys to 3rd-place finish
Ankeny Centennial's Gabriel Vicker waited patiently to make his move during the Tom Karpen Invitational cross country meet on Tuesday. The strategy paid off in a big way. Vicker pulled away in the final mile to win the boys' 5k race at Valley Southwoods Freshman High School in a time of 16:49. He finished 3 seconds ahead of runner-up Drake Hanson of … [Read more...] about Vicker pulls away for victory, leads Centennial boys to 3rd-place finish
Jaguars win tiebreaker for 6th place at Ames; Ankeny boys finish 9th
Thursday's Ames Invitational boys' cross country meet was dominated by the lone out-of-state school in the 13-team field. Rock Bridge (Mo.) won the team title with 46 points. Fifth-ranked Cedar Falls was second with 62 points, followed by the host Little Cyclones with 93. No. 9 Centennial and No. 11 Valley both finished with 147 points, but the Jaguars … [Read more...] about Jaguars win tiebreaker for 6th place at Ames; Ankeny boys finish 9th
Jaguars win 11/12 division, place second overall at Centennial Invite
After Ankeny Centennial's Gabriel Vicker crossed the finish line on Tuesday, he immediately focused his attention on his cross country teammates. Vicker placed second in the 11/12 race at the season-opening Centennial Invitational at DMACC, posting a time of 16 minutes 17 seconds. Three other Jaguars earned top-10 finishes, helping the team to the … [Read more...] about Jaguars win 11/12 division, place second overall at Centennial Invite
Vicker, Jaguars are motivated after falling short at last year’s district meet
Throughout most of the 2018 season, Ankeny Centennial's Gabriel Vicker was one of the top cross country runners in the state. After qualifying for the boys' Class 4A state meet as a freshman in 2017, Vicker followed up with a standout sophomore season in which he recorded six top-five finishes. He won the freshman/sophomore race at the Centennial … [Read more...] about Vicker, Jaguars are motivated after falling short at last year’s district meet
Vicker ends his career with 29th-place finish at state meet
Ankeny Centennial's Jonah Vicker was hoping to earn a top-15 finish in the boys' Class 4A state cross country meet on Saturday. He ended up setting for a top-30 finish. The senior placed 29th in the 5k race at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. He posted a time of 16 minutes 31 seconds. "I really wanted to get in the top 15, and I couldn't quite … [Read more...] about Vicker ends his career with 29th-place finish at state meet
Centennial girls earn another trip to state; Jonah Vicker also qualifies
The Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team is headed back to the Class 4A state meet. The Jaguars will be joined in Fort Dodge by Centennial senior Jonah Vicker, who qualified for the boys' meet as an individual by placing fourth in a district meet on Thursday at Marshalltown. Vicker watched the state meet a year ago as his brother, Gabriel, … [Read more...] about Centennial girls earn another trip to state; Jonah Vicker also qualifies
SINDTSATIONAL ONCE AGAIN: Ankeny runner defends conference title
Both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country teams used Thursday's CIML Central Conference meet as a tune-up for next week's district meets. The fifth-ranked Hawks placed third in the six-team field at Southeast Polk with 58 points. They were led by senior Tim Sindt, who pulled away from the field after the first mile to win the 5k race in a … [Read more...] about SINDTSATIONAL ONCE AGAIN: Ankeny runner defends conference title
Centennial girls, boys race to victories at Indianola Invitational
The Ankeny Centennial boys' and girls' cross country teams both posted victories on Thursday at the Indianola Invitational, but the wins came in drastically different fashion. While Centennial easily captured the boys' team title by 16 points, the Jaguars squeaked out a one-point victory in the girls' division to win the meet for the third time in four … [Read more...] about Centennial girls, boys race to victories at Indianola Invitational