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
Tyler Asbe
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
‘Our athletes made the best of it’: Jaguars compete in 3 meets in span of 24 hours
It was a very busy weekend for the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team. The Jaguars competed at three different meets in a span of 24 hours. "This was a tough weather week with multiple meets being either cancelled or postponed, but our athletes made the best of it and had a great night on Friday," said Centennial coach Tyler Asbe. "We split our squad … [Read more...] about ‘Our athletes made the best of it’: Jaguars compete in 3 meets in span of 24 hours
Jaguars win 8 events, place 2nd overall at S.E. Polk Invitational behind host Rams
The Ankeny Centennial girls' track team closed out Tuesday's Southeast Polk Invitational with its eighth victory of the night. The Jaguars won the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:59.41, allowing them to meet the Drake Relays Blue Oval standard. The team consisted of Aly Balashaitis, Rebecca Flick, Teagan Jackson and Ava Barten. "This group came into the … [Read more...] about Jaguars win 8 events, place 2nd overall at S.E. Polk Invitational behind host Rams
Jaguars win 4×400 relay to edge Cedar Falls for team crown at Sherwood Relays
A victory in the final event allowed the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team to win the Sherwood Relays crown on Saturday at Iowa City High. The Jaguars took first in the 4x400 relay to edge defending champion Cedar Falls for the team title. The foursome of Aly Balashaitis, Bella Buesch, Aubrey Mohr and Teagan Jackson posted a time of 4:08.07. Cedar … [Read more...] about Jaguars win 4×400 relay to edge Cedar Falls for team crown at Sherwood Relays
‘Our whole team showed toughness’: Jags overcome cold weather to win 2 events
Earlier in the week, the forecast called for temperatures in the 70s on Thursday afternoon. But those weren't the conditions that greeted the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team when the Jaguars arrived at Johnston for the Dragon Invitational. "The weather wasn’t ideal with high winds and dropping temperatures," said Centennial coach Tyler Asbe. "Our … [Read more...] about ‘Our whole team showed toughness’: Jags overcome cold weather to win 2 events
Centennial girls boast 12 returning state qualifiers, seek top-10 finish in Class 4A
The Ankeny Centennial girls' track team qualified for last year's Class 4A state meet in just about every event and scored points in many of them. The Jaguars, though, placed no higher than sixth in any event while tying for 15th place overall with 18 points. "We were able to medal in nine events, and a goal of ours is to be able to repeat that success … [Read more...] about Centennial girls boast 12 returning state qualifiers, seek top-10 finish in Class 4A
‘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
‘We are peaking at the right time’: Jaguars place 2nd in both divisions at SQM
The Ankeny Centennial track teams earned second-place finishes in a Class 4A state qualifying meet on Thursday at Council Bluffs Lincoln. Dowling Catholic captured both team titles. The Maroons won the boys' division with 213 points--24 more than Centennial--after losing to the Jaguars by one point at the CIML Conference meet on May 8. "The biggest … [Read more...] about ‘We are peaking at the right time’: Jaguars place 2nd in both divisions at SQM
‘It was a whole team effort’: Hawkettes place 2nd, Jaguars take 5th at CIML meet
The Ankeny girls' track team appears to be peaking at the right time. The Hawkettes won three events and placed second in the CIML Conference meet on Thursday at Waukee. They finished with 106.5 points. "We were super excited about how our team prepared and how they competed," said Ankeny coach TJ Jumper. "It was a whole team effort. We are rounding … [Read more...] about ‘It was a whole team effort’: Hawkettes place 2nd, Jaguars take 5th at CIML meet
‘I’m happy how it ended’: Madetzke places 6th in 1,500 at Relays, sets school record
Before she stepped back onto the blue oval Saturday afternoon at Drake Stadium, Ankeny junior Makenna Madetzke realized how lucky she was to be running her next race under sunny skies and moderate conditions. "I was just talking to my teammate (Sophia Graber) before the race about how we were getting the perfect temperature for the weekend," Madetzke … [Read more...] about ‘I’m happy how it ended’: Madetzke places 6th in 1,500 at Relays, sets school record
Jaguars place 2nd, Hawkettes finish 5th in Drake Relays tuneup at Weier Invitational
Monday's Larry Weier Invitational at Dowling Catholic served as a final tuneup for the Drake Relays for six girls' track teams, including Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial. The Jaguars placed second overall with 168.5 points. Dowling won the meet for the third straight year, racking up 205.5 points. "The Dowling meet was a nice tuneup for the Drake Relays … [Read more...] about Jaguars place 2nd, Hawkettes finish 5th in Drake Relays tuneup at Weier Invitational
Ankeny girls edge Johnston, Centennial to win team crown at Jaguar Invitational
The 31 seniors on the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team were honored during Thursday's Jaguar Invitational, and at the end of the meet they nearly got to celebrate a team title. However, a strong performance by its crosstown rival prevented Centennial from doing just that. Ankeny racked up 119.5 points to capture the crown, winning a close three-team … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls edge Johnston, Centennial to win team crown at Jaguar Invitational
‘We saw a lot of great efforts’: Hawkettes place 5th, Jags finish 8th at Duea Relays
The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' track teams both competed in the Jim Duea Relays on Tuesday at Ames. The Hawkettes placed fifth in the 14-team field with 64.5 points. "The team competed hard," said Ankeny coach TJ Jumper. "We are starting to really narrow down our varsity team as we get closer to the championship part of our season. We are … [Read more...] about ‘We saw a lot of great efforts’: Hawkettes place 5th, Jags finish 8th at Duea Relays
Hawkettes, Jaguars earn several top-8 finishes in tuneup for Drake Relays
Saturday's Jim Duncan Invitational proved to be a good tuneup for the Drake Relays for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' track teams. Competing on the same blue oval that will host America's Athletic Classic in two weeks, the Hawkettes and Jaguars both earned several top-eight finishes while facing some of the state's top athletes. "I'm very … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars earn several top-8 finishes in tuneup for Drake Relays
Centennial’s Woods qualifies for Drake in 100 hurdles; 4×400 relay also qualifies
The Ankeny Centennial girls' track team met the Blue Oval standard in two events while tying for eighth place overall among 15 squads at the Waukee Northwest Relays on Thursday. "It was an awesome night for our team!" said Centennial coach Tyler Asbe. "The energy and effort displayed by the girls was fantastic, and we came away with many strong … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Woods qualifies for Drake in 100 hurdles; 4×400 relay also qualifies
‘We had a nice night of competition’: Jaguars place 5th at Oldham Invitational
The Ankeny Centennial girls' track team won a pair of relays and placed fifth overall among seven squads in the Craig Oldham Invitational on Tuesday at Johnston. The Jaguars, who also got a victory from Ava Barten in the 400 hurdles, finished with 70 points. Barten posted a time of 1:07.01 to edge Alayna Schulte of Waukee Northwest by .40 seconds. "We … [Read more...] about ‘We had a nice night of competition’: Jaguars place 5th at Oldham Invitational
Jaguars place 2nd, Ankeny takes 5th in tight team race at Hawkette Invitational
Only 15 points separated the top five teams in the Hawkette Invitational girls' track meet on Thursday at Ankeny Stadium. Indianola won the meet with 118 points. Ankeny Centennial was the runner-up in the eight-team field with 113, edging Cedar Falls by one point. "We had another great meet," said Centennial coach Tyler Asbe. "It was awesome having … [Read more...] about Jaguars place 2nd, Ankeny takes 5th in tight team race at Hawkette Invitational