Ankeny junior Lena Bruening earned another Drake Relays medal Thursday on the opening day of this year's high school events at Drake Stadium. Bruening, who ran on the winning sprint medley relay as a freshman at Waukee in 2024, placed third in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet 5.25 inches. Abby Mecklenburg of Linn-Mar (Marion) easily won the event with … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Bruening takes 3rd in Drake long jump; Jags’ Blevins finishes 10th in 3,000
TJ Jumper
Jaguars edge Dowling Catholic to capture team crown at Larry Weier Invitational
The Ankeny Centennial girls' track team earned its third title of the season on Monday by winning the Larry Weier Invitational at Dowling Catholic. And the Jaguars did it without pushing their top runners to the limit. "We ran the girls pretty minimally," said Centennial coach Tyler Asbe. "It was just a light night to stay sharp, but very low volume … [Read more...] about Jaguars edge Dowling Catholic to capture team crown at Larry Weier Invitational
Centennial girls win 8 events, cruise to team crown at their Jaguar Invitational
The depth of its roster paid off on Thursday for the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team. The Jaguars won eight events and easily captured the team title in its own Jaguar Invitational at Northview Stadium. They racked up 178 points, 58 more than runner-up Dowling Catholic. Centennial won two field events, both hurdles races and two distance races. The … [Read more...] about Centennial girls win 8 events, cruise to team crown at their Jaguar Invitational
Hawkettes, Jaguars take advantage of favorable weather at Jim Duea Relays
Tuesday was a good night for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' track teams. Taking advantage of the favorable weather conditions, the Hawkettes placed third among 16 squads in the Jim Duea Relays at Ames. They finished with 64 points. "We were very pleased with our team's execution and how we competed," said Ankeny coach TJ Jumper. "We are … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars take advantage of favorable weather at Jim Duea Relays
Madetzke wins 2 races at Duncan Invite; Fisher sets AHS mark in 400 at I.C. West
The Ankeny girls' track team finally got a chance to compete on Saturday, and coach TJ Jumper sent his athletes in two different directions. Only part of his squad went to the Jim Duncan Invitational at Drake Stadium. "Because of the stringent entry guidelines along with all the weather cancellations, we decided to split our squad," Jumper said. "The … [Read more...] about Madetzke wins 2 races at Duncan Invite; Fisher sets AHS mark in 400 at I.C. West
‘We are chasing the weather’: Ankeny girls run at North Polk, set school mark in SMR
The rainy weather has made things difficult for all of the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial track teams. The four squads are slated to compete in the Jim Duncan Invitational on April 11 at Drake Stadium, but the meet requires performance marks from this season in order to qualify. "We are chasing the weather unfortunately," said Ankeny girls' coach TJ … [Read more...] about ‘We are chasing the weather’: Ankeny girls run at North Polk, set school mark in SMR
Fisher breaks school record in 200, leads Hawkettes to team title at Emporia Relays
A long road trip to Kansas showed what the Ankeny girls' track team might be capable of accomplishing this season. The Hawkettes won seven events and easily captured the team crown on Saturday at the Emporia State Relays. They racked up 157 points against 11 other squads, 41 more than runner-up Andover (Kan.). "We were happy with many performances as … [Read more...] about Fisher breaks school record in 200, leads Hawkettes to team title at Emporia Relays
‘This team can have some really special moments’: Hawkettes set some high goals
After placing fifth in last year's Class 4A state meet with 51 points, the Ankeny girls' track team could contend for a trophy this season. The Hawkettes boast 11 returning state qualifiers and four other athletes who were alternates for the state meet. "We are excited for this team and what we can do in big meets," said Ankeny coach TJ Jumper. "This … [Read more...] about ‘This team can have some really special moments’: Hawkettes set some high goals
Ankeny’s Madetzke, Smith overcome adversity to finish careers at state meet
Ankeny seniors Makenna Madetzke and Isaiah Smith closed out their high school cross country careers on Saturday in similar fashion. They both competed in the Class 4A state meet at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge as individuals after their respective teams failed to qualify. "It was a little different, but I train a lot alone in the winter time," … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Madetzke, Smith overcome adversity to finish careers at state meet
Smith, Madetzke advance to state, but qualifying streak ends for Ankeny squads
Ankeny cross country standout Isaiah Smith has earned a fourth consecutive trip to the boys' Class 4A state meet. Another senior, Makenna Madetzke, has qualified for the third time in the girls' race. This year, though, their respective teams will not be joining them. "It's really sad and kind of tragic to not have the team behind me," said … [Read more...] about Smith, Madetzke advance to state, but qualifying streak ends for Ankeny squads
‘It was another great day for racing’: Jags place 3rd, Ankeny takes 7th at CIML meet
The Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team was hoping to win its first CIML Conference title since 2022, which was also the last time the meet was held at Johnston. After placing second behind Johnston in each of the last two years, the third-ranked Jaguars raced to a third-place finish on Wednesday. They finished with 67 points. No. 2 Waukee … [Read more...] about ‘It was another great day for racing’: Jags place 3rd, Ankeny takes 7th at CIML meet
Centennial girls place 2nd at Fort Dodge; Hawkettes finish 11th behind Madetzke
Many of the girls' cross country teams competing in the Fort Dodge Invitational on Thursday will likely be back at Lakeside Golf Course on Nov. 1 for the Class 4A state meet. It provided a good test run for the fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial squad, which placed second among 25 teams with 90 points. No. 3 Waukee Northwest captured the team title with 57 … [Read more...] about Centennial girls place 2nd at Fort Dodge; Hawkettes finish 11th behind Madetzke
Shorthanded Hawkettes race to 9th-place finish on difficult course at S.E. Polk Invite
A shorthanded Ankeny girls' cross country team competed in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Thursday. And if that wasn't enough of a challenge, the course itself proved to be very difficult. "The course was modified this year because of some construction on the football stadium, which resulted in the runners running two more hills than last year," … [Read more...] about Shorthanded Hawkettes race to 9th-place finish on difficult course at S.E. Polk Invite
‘It was another good competitive effort’: Jaguar boys take 5th at Heartland Classic
The fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team earned a fifth-place finish in the Heartland Classic on Saturday at Central College in Pella. The Jaguars scored 179 points. Ankeny, meanwhile, took 13th in the 24-team field with 327 points. "It was another good competitive effort from the guys," said Centennial coach Chad Fickbohm. "It was … [Read more...] about ‘It was another good competitive effort’: Jaguar boys take 5th at Heartland Classic
Centennial boys, Ankeny teams turn in strong races at ‘competitive’ Bobcat Invite
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
Ankeny’s Madetzke wins Schmaltz Invite; Centennial girls earn runner-up finish
The race for the individual girls' title in the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on Thursday came down to a trio of cross country runners from Ankeny. Ankeny's Makenna Madetzke outdueled the Ankeny Centennial duo of Rebecca Flick and Ellie Blevins to win the 5K race at the Iowa State cross country course in Ames. Madetzke posted a time of 17 minutes 57 … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Madetzke wins Schmaltz Invite; Centennial girls earn runner-up finish
Flick, Blevins lead Centennial girls to runner-up finish at Jaguar Invitational
The Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team opened its season on Tuesday by placing second in the Jaguar Invitational at DMACC. The 12th-ranked Jaguars scored 55 points when the results of the two girls' races were combined. No. 3 Waukee Northwest won the meet with 36 points. "Our coaching staff is very proud of our girls as they fought off … [Read more...] about Flick, Blevins lead Centennial girls to runner-up finish at Jaguar Invitational
‘You go, I go’: Hawkettes hope to continue recent success by stressing teamwork
The Ankeny girls' cross country team has been remarkably consistent over the last few years. The Hawkettes placed seventh in last year's Class 4A state meet with 195 points. It was the team's third straight seventh-place finish after placing sixth in 2021, which was the program's highest finish since taking fifth in 1988. However, Ankeny coach TJ … [Read more...] about ‘You go, I go’: Hawkettes hope to continue recent success by stressing teamwork
‘We could not be more proud’: Coaches praise efforts by Hawkettes, Jaguars
Senior Drew Beason and her Ankeny teammates left it all out on the track Saturday. Their crosstown rivals from Ankeny Centennial did the same. Both the Hawkettes and Jaguars walked away from the girls' Class 4A state meet at Drake Stadium feeling good about what they accomplished. "We could not be more proud of this team and how they performed," … [Read more...] about ‘We could not be more proud’: Coaches praise efforts by Hawkettes, Jaguars
‘I’m super proud of this team’: Hawkettes earn runner-up finish in distance medley
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) As it turns out, the Ankeny grouping of Charlee Cibula, Lillian Buckley, Morgan Fisher and Makenna Madetzke make for a pretty good distance medley relay team. The Hawkettes were looking to follow up a strong Thursday showing that helped them hold the top spot in Class 4A after the first day of the girls' state track meet, … [Read more...] about ‘I’m super proud of this team’: Hawkettes earn runner-up finish in distance medley