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Eric Cogdill

Jaguars start slow and finish strong, place 2nd at Tom Karpen Invitational

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Overcoming a slow start, the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team raced to a second-place finish in the Tom Karpen Invitational on Tuesday. The defending champion Jaguars finished with 53 points despite missing a few of their varsity regulars. Fourth-ranked Valley easily won the seven-team meet on its home course at Valley Southwoods Freshman High … [Read more...] about Jaguars start slow and finish strong, place 2nd at Tom Karpen Invitational

Ankeny’s McMahon wins again, while Jaguars place 3rd at Bobcat Invitational

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The wet conditions didn't slow down the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team on Thursday. They didn't seem to bother Ankeny runner Lauren McMahon, either. McMahon raced to her second straight victory to lead the Hawkettes to a seventh-place finish in the Red Division of the Bobcat Invitational on Thursday at Marshalltown, while Centennial relied … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s McMahon wins again, while Jaguars place 3rd at Bobcat Invitational

‘She’s transformed a little bit’: Former thrower wins her first cross country race

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Ankeny senior Lauren McMahon surprised herself on Thursday at the DMACC cross country course. She surprised her opponents, too. McMahon cruised to an easy victory in her first varsity race, posting a time of 18 minutes 32 seconds on the 5K course. She finished 23 seconds ahead of Valley's Lauren Schulze. "I had no idea what to expect honestly," said … [Read more...] about ‘She’s transformed a little bit’: Former thrower wins her first cross country race

‘Our goal is to be a top 10 team at state’: Centennial girls boast high hopes

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The members of the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team are already running some fast times. During a recent practice, Rondi Quass and Kathryn Vortherms both broke the Jaguars' record in the mile time trial. Quass (5 minutes 18 seconds) and Vortherms (5:20) eclipsed the previous mark of 5:25 that was set by former Centennial standout Kate Smith on … [Read more...] about ‘Our goal is to be a top 10 team at state’: Centennial girls boast high hopes

Growth continues for Jaguars: Vortherms places 32nd; Jensen takes 74th

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Ankeny Centennial runners Kathryn Vortherms and Katie Jensen have come a long way in the last two years. On Saturday, that growth culminated in a pair of strong performances in the girls' Class 4A state cross country meet at Fort Dodge. Vortherms, a junior, raced to a 32nd-place finish in a field of 126 runners. The junior posted a time of 19 minutes … [Read more...] about Growth continues for Jaguars: Vortherms places 32nd; Jensen takes 74th

Centennial advances 3 boys, 2 girls to state cross country meet

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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

Centennial girls take 2nd at conference meet, while Hawkettes finish 5th

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Kathryn Vortherms and the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team didn't want to focus on next week's state qualifying meet just yet. "We know where we're going (for the regional meet), but we don't know the teams there yet," Vortherms said. "We're not going to look until after conference." Vortherms placed fifth in the CIML Central Conference meet … [Read more...] about Centennial girls take 2nd at conference meet, while Hawkettes finish 5th

Ankeny Centennial to host middle school state cross country meet on Saturday

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Ankeny Community Schools is pleased to announce that Ankeny Centennial High School will be hosting the Iowa Association of Track Coaches middle school state cross country meet on Saturday. A 2-mile course has been laid out on the ACHS campus at 2220 NW State St. Spectators are welcome to park in lots on the west and east sides of the building for $5. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Centennial to host middle school state cross country meet on Saturday

Centennial, Ankeny boys finish 1-2 at Atlantic Invite; Girls’ teams also shine

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The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial cross country teams badly needed to find a race after Thursday's Fort Dodge Invitational was cancelled due to bad weather. Fortunately, they were able to quickly find one. All four squads competed in the Atlantic Invitational on Saturday. The meet was contested in cold and windy conditions on a muddy course. "With … [Read more...] about Centennial, Ankeny boys finish 1-2 at Atlantic Invite; Girls’ teams also shine

Centennial runners battle Mother Nature at Iowa City West Invitational

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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

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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

Centennial girls race to dominating victory at Karpen Invitational

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Tuesday's Tom Karpen Invitational showed what the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team is capable of. The eighth-ranked Jaguars placed five runners in the top 10 and easily won the team title at Valley Southwoods Freshman High School with 25 points. No. 4 Waukee was a distant second in the eight-team field with 67 points. "Our girls ran an … [Read more...] about Centennial girls race to dominating victory at Karpen Invitational

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Jennifer Jordan, Ankeny Centennial girls’ cross country

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Junior Jennifer Jordan is a member of the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team. Jordan helped the seventh-ranked Jaguars to a third-place finish among 10 teams in the Ames Invitational on Thursday at the Iowa State cross country course. She placed 13th in a field of 69 runners with a time of 21 minutes 24 seconds in the 5k race. "Jennifer has … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Jennifer Jordan, Ankeny Centennial girls’ cross country

Graybill paces Jaguars to 3rd-place finish; Ankeny places 6th behind Pitz

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A new front-runner emerged for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country teams during the Ames Invitational on Thursday at the Iowa State cross country course. Morgan Graybill led seventh-ranked Centennial to a third-place finish in the 10-team field. She took seventh in the 5k race with a time of 20 minutes 55 seconds. "We had a new … [Read more...] about Graybill paces Jaguars to 3rd-place finish; Ankeny places 6th behind Pitz

Vortherms leads Jaguars to runner-up finish; Ankeny girls place fourth

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Ankeny Centennial cross country runner Kathryn Vortherms had two different messages written on her arms for Tuesday's season-opening Centennial Invitational at DMACC. She wrote the word "positive" on her right arm. "I give up control" was written on her left arm. "It's a lyric from a song. It's for King & Country--one of their songs," Vortherms … [Read more...] about Vortherms leads Jaguars to runner-up finish; Ankeny girls place fourth

Centennial girls to rely on deep, talented packs to reach their goals

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A No. 1 runner has yet to emerge for the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team. But head coach Eric Cogdill is completely fine with that. "I don’t expect us to have a clear No. 1 runner all season, and that is a great asset," said Cogdill. "We currently have a very nice pack of three that is right there with any top three we’ve had at Centennial. … [Read more...] about Centennial girls to rely on deep, talented packs to reach their goals

Jaguars ‘won’t let this happen again’ after placing 15th at state

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Eric Cogdill tried to look on the bright side Saturday following the conclusion of the state cross country meet in Fort Dodge. His Ankeny Centennial girls' squad had just placed 15th among 15 teams in the Class 4A field, finishing with 361 points. "We're not here to make excuses--15th place is 15th place," Cogdill said. "But there are 33 other schools … [Read more...] about Jaguars ‘won’t let this happen again’ after placing 15th at state

Ankeny’s Sindt looks to defend his Class 4A title on Saturday

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All eyes will be on Tim Sindt Saturday as the Ankeny senior tries to win a second consecutive boys' Class 4A state cross country title in Fort Dodge. Sindt won last year's race in a time of 15 minutes 23.7 seconds. He has easily won all seven of his races this season, including the Ankeny Centennial Invitational on Oct. 4 at DMACC, where he became the … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Sindt looks to defend his Class 4A title on Saturday

Centennial girls earn another trip to state; Jonah Vicker also qualifies

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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