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
Drew Beason
‘It was an amazing day of racing!’: Jaguars place 4th, Hawkettes take 7th in Class 4A
The Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team did everything it could to capture a trophy on Friday. The fourth-ranked Jaguars simply lost to three better squads. Centennial placed fourth in the Class 4A state meet at Fort Dodge with 145 points. The Jaguars finished 12 points behind No. 3 Dubuque Senior for the third-place trophy. No. 1 Pleasant … [Read more...] about ‘It was an amazing day of racing!’: Jaguars place 4th, Hawkettes take 7th in Class 4A
Zuber leads Hawks to district crown; Hawkettes also qualify for state meet
The Ankeny cross country teams extended their streaks of consecutive state-meet appearances on Wednesday. The boys' squad won a Class 4A district meet at Southeast Polk to earn their fourth straight trip to state. The ninth-ranked Hawks scored 48 points, while No. 14 Indianola (69 points) and No. 11 Johnston (78 points) also advanced to … [Read more...] about Zuber leads Hawks to district crown; Hawkettes also qualify for state meet
‘I felt I would be more happy at S. Dakota’: Beason picks Coyotes over Nebraska
One of the state's best distance runners has made her college plans. Ankeny senior Drew Beason has verbally committed to join the South Dakota women's cross country and track programs. She picked the Coyotes over Nebraska. "I liked the team and the team culture at South Dakota," said Beason. "I felt I would be more happy at South Dakota and just be … [Read more...] about ‘I felt I would be more happy at S. Dakota’: Beason picks Coyotes over Nebraska
Ankeny boys place 14th, Hawkettes finish 18th at prestigious Roy Griak Invitational
Friday's Roy Griak Invitational at St. Paul, Minn., provided an opportunity for the Ankeny cross country teams to compete in one of the premier races in the Midwest. More than 40 teams participated in both the boys' and girls' championship divisions, attracting schools from multiple states. Each race had a field of more than 400 runners. "It was our … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys place 14th, Hawkettes finish 18th at prestigious Roy Griak Invitational
Like a ‘well-oiled machine’, Centennial girls capture team title at Schmaltz Invite
There was no rust for the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team to shake off. For the second time in three years, the fifth-ranked Jaguars captured the team title in the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on Thursday. The meet was held at the Iowa State cross country course in Ames. Centennial posted a score of 54 points, matching its winning total from … [Read more...] about Like a ‘well-oiled machine’, Centennial girls capture team title at Schmaltz Invite
Hawkettes place 8th in Class 4A, while Jaguars take 12th to equal highest finish
When the dust had finally settled on Saturday afternoon, the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' track teams both had plenty of reasons to be happy about their performances in the Class 4A state meet at Drake Stadium. The Hawkettes and Jaguars also showed that they have a bright future. Several underclassmen played key roles for both squads in the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes place 8th in Class 4A, while Jaguars take 12th to equal highest finish
Hawkettes, Jaguars collide often on opening day of coed state track meet
The opening day of the coed state track meet featured a few head-to-head battles between the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' teams. In two of the events on Thursday at Drake Stadium, both the Hawkettes and Jaguars scored points. They each earned top-three finishes in the high jump and top-six finishes in the 4x800 relay. "I really enjoy running … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars collide often on opening day of coed state track meet
Ankeny’s Zuber, Beason, Hanfelt shine on record-setting day at Drake Relays
It didn't take long for the records to fall at this year's Drake Relays. Ankeny junior Ethan Zuber broke the previous Relays record in the boys' 3,200 on Thursday, but had to settle for a runner-up finish. Zuber was edged by sophomore Jaden Merrick of Cedar Falls, who won the race in 8:55.14. Merrick ran the fourth-fastest time on the state's all-time … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Zuber, Beason, Hanfelt shine on record-setting day at Drake Relays
Ankeny girls win 5 events, edge Dragons by 5 points to defend Hawkette title
It was a banner night for the Ankeny girls' track team. The Hawkettes celebrated their Senior Night by winning the Hawkette Invitational on Thursday for the second year in a row. They finished with 122 points, five more than Johnston. Ankeny Centennial also had a good meet. The Jaguars placed third in the eight-team field with 103 points. Ankeny had … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls win 5 events, edge Dragons by 5 points to defend Hawkette title
Hawkettes place 7th, Jaguars finish 9th in Class 4A; Beason, Mohrhauser lead way
The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country teams have had some close battles all season. The two squads had another one on Friday in the Class 4A state meet at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. Eighth-ranked Ankeny placed seventh in the 15-team field for the second straight year, finishing with 186 points. No. 5 Centennial took ninth with … [Read more...] about Hawkettes place 7th, Jaguars finish 9th in Class 4A; Beason, Mohrhauser lead way
Hawkettes continue to have fun, qualify for state for 4th consecutive year
Ankeny girls' cross country coach Quinn Groff has put a lot of emphasis on having fun during his first season with the Hawkettes' program. The Ankeny runners certainly enjoyed Wednesday's Class 4A regional meet at the Iowa State cross country course in Ames. The eighth-ranked Hawkettes advanced to the state meet for the fourth consecutive year by … [Read more...] about Hawkettes continue to have fun, qualify for state for 4th consecutive year
‘It was a great night’: Jaguars place 2nd, Hawkettes finish 4th at conference meet
Both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country teams left the DMACC course on Wednesday feeling good about where they are headed. The seventh-ranked Jaguars placed second in the CIML Conference meet with 64 points. The defending champions finished 14 points behind No. 1 Johnston. "We had some lights out racing tonight from the Jaguars. We … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great night’: Jaguars place 2nd, Hawkettes finish 4th at conference meet
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Drew Beason, Ankeny girls’ cross country
Junior Drew Beason led the seventh-ranked Ankeny girls' cross country team to a second-place finish in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Thursday. She was the runner-up in the 5k race, posting a time of 18 minutes 56 seconds. Beason is a two-time state placewinner for the Hawkettes. She took 11th in Class 4A as a freshman in 2021, then finished 15th last … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Drew Beason, Ankeny girls’ cross country
Centennial girls edge Hawkettes by 4 points to defend crown at Karpan Invite
Only one spot separates the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country teams in the latest Class 3A rankings from the Iowa Association of Track Coaches. Tuesday's Tom Karpan Invitational at Valley Southwoods Freshman High School showed that there isn't much of a gap between the two squads. Sixth-ranked Centennial edged No. 5 Ankeny by four … [Read more...] about Centennial girls edge Hawkettes by 4 points to defend crown at Karpan Invite
Hawkettes race to team crown in Groff’s first meet, while Jaguars place 2nd
It didn't take long for Quinn Groff to make an impact for the Ankeny girls' cross country program. Groff guided the ninth-ranked Hawkettes to the team title in the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on Monday in his debut as the team's coach. The meet was held at the Iowa State cross country course in Ames. "The girls ran well!" Groff said. "Our coaching staff … [Read more...] about Hawkettes race to team crown in Groff’s first meet, while Jaguars place 2nd
Ankeny girls break 42-year-old school record in 4×400 relay, finish 5th in 4A
On a gorgeous Saturday afternoon at Drake Stadium, the Ankeny girls' track team closed out the Class 4A state meet in style. The Hawkettes placed sixth in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:54.26, breaking a school record that had stood since 1981. The team was comprised of Sophie Loeffler, Morgan Johnson, Zoe Shadravan and Alli Macke. Macke ran the … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls break 42-year-old school record in 4×400 relay, finish 5th in 4A
Ankeny girls capture 4×800 relay title, take Class 4A lead with 27 points
Alli Macke could hardly walk after anchoring Ankeny's 4x800 relay team to a Class 4A state title on Thursday at Drake Stadium. "It really takes a toll on my body, but it's totally worth it to be standing here as state champs with my best friends," said Macke. The sophomore teamed up with Sophie Loeffler, Reagan Prendergast and Drew Beason to win the … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls capture 4×800 relay title, take Class 4A lead with 27 points
‘We knew we’d get a good spot’: Centennial girls place 2nd in 4×400 relay
Kylin Smith and the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team enjoyed another great day at the Drake Relays. After earlier breaking her own school record in the 400 hurdles, Smith helped the Jaguars to a runner-up finish in the 4x400 relay on Saturday afternoon. She ran the third leg in 59.34 seconds to move her team from fourth place into second. "She had a … [Read more...] about ‘We knew we’d get a good spot’: Centennial girls place 2nd in 4×400 relay
Beason, Pratt earn 5th-place finishes at Drake Relays; Baier takes 8th
Distance runners Drew Beason of Ankeny and Rondi Quass of Ankeny Centennial both accomplished their goals during the Distance Carnival portion of the Drake Relays on Thursday at Drake Stadium. Beason placed fifth in the girls' 3,000 with a time of 10:05.32. She dropped 4 seconds off her personal record. "My goal going into the race was a … [Read more...] about Beason, Pratt earn 5th-place finishes at Drake Relays; Baier takes 8th