Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Kathryn Vortherms

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ track and field team

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When Ankeny Fanatic started unveiling its various all-time Ankeny athletic teams in 2020, it sparked a lot of interest in the community. Some of the current and former girls' track coaches even got together during the COVID-19 pandemic to discuss the greatest Ankeny athletes in their sport. "A bunch of us did an online conference and chose what we … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ track and field team

Hawkettes tie for 4th in 4A, while Jaguars score most points in school history

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The bar has been raised for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' track teams. The Hawkettes tied for fourth place in the Class 4A state meet that concluded on Saturday at Drake Stadium. They finished with 40 points, matching Cedar Falls' total. It was Ankeny's highest finish since 1997, when the Hawkettes earned runner-up honors in Class 3A. "We … [Read more...] about Hawkettes tie for 4th in 4A, while Jaguars score most points in school history

McMahon wins 3,000 in dramatic fashion; Jaguars place 3rd in 4×800 relay

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Ankeny senior Lauren McMahon asked herself a question as she watched Iowa City Liberty's Ashlyn Keeney take the lead on the final lap of the 3,000-meter run in the girls' Class 4A state track meet on Thursday. "I knew she was going to come out with a really good 400 kick," McMahon said of Keeney. "I was just thinking in my head, 'Lauren, what do you have … [Read more...] about McMahon wins 3,000 in dramatic fashion; Jaguars place 3rd in 4×800 relay

Hawkettes edge Centennial girls by 6 points to win Iowa Conference crown

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' track team continues to chase its crosstown rival. On Tuesday, the Jaguars nearly caught Ankeny for the first time this season. The two squads waged a close battle for the team title in the CIML Iowa Conference meet at Mason City. The Hawkettes emerged with the crown, racking up 159 points to edge Centennial by six … [Read more...] about Hawkettes edge Centennial girls by 6 points to win Iowa Conference crown

‘It was great to be back at the Relays’: Centennial girls medal in 3 events

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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

Vortherms enjoys ‘huge day’, leads Jaguars to runner-up finish at Iowa City

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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

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kathryn Vortherms, Centennial girls’ track

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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

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ cross country team

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Craig Doocy coached a lot of talented runners during his 28 years as the head coach of the Ankeny girls' cross country team. Doocy took over the program in 1989 and guided the Hawkettes to 15 state-meet appearances before retiring after the 2016 season. "I was blessed with coaching so many awesome, hard-working, dedicated student-athletes that I was … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ cross country team

Vortherms commits to Hawkeyes, will reunite with former Jaguar teammates

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Kathryn Vortherms considers her teammates on the Ankeny Centennial girls' track squad part of her family. She was hoping to find a similar environment on the collegiate level, and she found it in Iowa City. Vortherms has committed to join the Iowa women's track and field program next year. She will be reunited with former Centennial teammates Emma … [Read more...] about Vortherms commits to Hawkeyes, will reunite with former Jaguar teammates

‘Every girl had a phenomenal race’: Jaguars capture 3rd-place trophy

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As she crossed the finish line at the girls' Class 4A state cross country meet on Friday, Ankeny Centennial sophomore Rondi Quass knew that she had earned a spot on the awards podium. Quass later discovered that she would get to make two appearances on the clubhouse deck at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. She not only placed 14th as an individual, … [Read more...] about ‘Every girl had a phenomenal race’: Jaguars capture 3rd-place trophy

Ankeny, Centennial athletes compete at Iowa Track and Field Carnival

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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

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 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

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

Jaguars, Hawkettes run some fast times on DMACC course

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Thursday's Ankeny Centennial Invitational cross country meet produced numerous personal records for both the Ankeny and Centennial girls' teams. The fast times may have been the result of a short course, but the perfect weather conditions certainly helped. "I can't say definitively (the course) was short or even possibly long," said Centennial coach … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawkettes run some fast times on DMACC course

Jaguars look to continue state-meet streak in 2018

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team has qualified for the Class 4A state meet in each of its first five years as a varsity program. There's no reason to believe that the Jaguars won't earn another trip back to Fort Dodge in 2018. Centennial returns six varsity regulars from last year's team that placed 13th in Class 4A with 242 points. Head … [Read more...] about Jaguars look to continue state-meet streak in 2018

Hawkettes win 4×1 prelim, crack Iowa’s all-time top-10 list

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Friday was a good day for the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team. It wasn't bad for Ankeny, either. Both squads turned in some impressive performances on another beautiful day at the Class 4A state meet at Drake Stadium. While the Jaguars scored points in two more events, Ankeny put itself in position to get on the scoreboard on Saturday. The … [Read more...] about Hawkettes win 4×1 prelim, crack Iowa’s all-time top-10 list

Centennial girls set 3 more school records on opening day of state meet

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After setting four school records in a Class 4A regional meet a week ago, the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team erased three more on Thursday in the opening day of the state meet at Drake Stadium. Sophomore Calea Jones again broke her own school record in the high jump. She tied for third place in the event with a leap of 5 feet 3 inches. "I was very … [Read more...] about Centennial girls set 3 more school records on opening day of state meet

‘Nervous’ Jones leads the way as Jaguars break 4 school records

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A bundle of nervous energy paid off in a big way Thursday for Ankeny Centennial's Calea Jones. The sophomore had a hand in three school records as the Jaguars placed second in a girls' Class 4A regional track meet at Waukee. She won the high jump and ran on two runner-up relays that also qualified for next week's state meet at Drake Stadium. "I was … [Read more...] about ‘Nervous’ Jones leads the way as Jaguars break 4 school records