Maroons Brave the Ankeny Cold

By Coach Vanderah | April 5, 2024

Dowling went up to Ankeny for the second outdoor meet of the year. After losing out on the first Northwest meet two days prior, we mixed and matched our two lineups and came away with a 4th place team finish, several PRs, and some all-time performances.

The Maroons came away with 77 team points in the varsity division. This meet was scored differently, with only the top 6 were scored (10-8-6-4-2-1). Here are those who scored points in their events.

• 200 meters: Shea Johnson ran a season's best 27.54, finishing 4th and earning 4 points for the team.

• 400 meters: Lauren McCoy finished 2nd in 59.81 for 8 points. Maddie Nagel ran a season's best 1:03.36, earning 4th place and 4 team points.

• 3000 meters: Braelyn Gifford shaved 10 seconds off of her PR, finishing 6th and earning 1 point for the team.

• 100 hurdles: Annie Smith ran her first 100 hurdles ever and finished 2nd in 15.71, earning 8 points. Franny Brooks finished 5th in 16.50 earning 2 points.

• 400 hurdles: Katherine Banker ran a 1:09.87 earning her 8 points for second place, Annie Smith ran a 1:12.02 in her first 400 hurdles finishing 5th for 2 points.

• Discus: Amaiya Thompson threw for the first time this season and launched a 104'2, earning 2 points in 5th place.

• Shot put: Kenzie Dean stays consistent and throws a 33'2.5, good for 5th place and 2 team points.

• 4x100: The team of Ruby Leman, Emily Heitzman, Shea Johnson, and Ellie Mead finish 1st in a season's best 49.68 to earn 10 points.

• 4x400: The team of Franny Brooks, Elise Huegerich, Alex Gaskell, and Maddie Nagel finish in 4th place to earn 4 points.

• 4x800: The team of Elise Huegerich, Avery Muller, Liv Hall, and Molly O'Halloran finish 5th to earn 2 points.

• Sprint Medley: Shea Johnson, Emily Heitzman, Annie Smith, and Lauren McCoy finish 2nd to earn 8 points.

• Distance Medley: Abby Eischeid, Anita Tombe, Amaiya Thompson, and Ava Van Ee finish 5th to earn 2 points.

• Shuttle Hurdle: Annie Smith, Franny Brooks, Alex Gaskell, and Ruby Leman debut the shuttle for the first time this season and run a 1:04.51 - which is currently the best in the state.

Here are how many points each individual scored:

• Annie Smith 14.5 points - MVP 🏆

• Lauren McCoy 10 points

• Shea Johnson 8.5 points

• Katherine Banker 8 points

• Emily Heitzman 5.5 points

• Franny Brooks 5.5 points

• Ruby Leman 5 points

• Maddie Nagel 5 points

• Alex Gaskell 3.5 points

• Amaiya Thompson 2.5 points

• Ellie Mead 2.5 points

• Kenzie Dean 2 points

• Elise Huegerich 1.5 points

• Braelyn Gifford 1 point

• Abby Eischeid 0.5 points

• Liv Hall 0.5 points

• Avery Muller 0.5 points

• Molly O'Halloran 0.5 points

• Ava Van Ee 0.5 points

• Anita Tombe 0.5 points

• Annie Smith - 100 hurdles: 15.71, 6th all-time for juniors

• Amaiya Thompson - Discus: 104'2, 6th all-time for juniors

• Annie Smith - 400 hurdles: 1:12.02, 7th all-time for juniors

• Braelyn Gifford - 3000 meters: 11:08.01, 10th all-time for juniors

• Maddie Nagel - 400 meters: 1:03.36, 10th all-time for sophomores

• Matilda Vizcarra - 400 hurdles: 1:13.74, 6th all-time for freshmen

• Izzy Crouch: Shot put (21'2.25)

• Braelyn Gifford: 1500 meters (5:10.43), 3000 meters (11:08.01)

• Olivia Hendricks: Discus (62'11)

• Gabby Metz: Discus (63'0)

• Molly O'Halloran: 1500 meters (5:11.28)

• Sofiya Pollard: 3000 meters (12:30.89)

• Avery Prichard: 1500 meters (5:47.59)

• Sadie Reinhardt: 800 meters (2:33.05)

• Quincey Vogel: High jump (4'6)

• Cora Volp: 800 meters (2:35.85)

Here is a running list of the Blue Oval Standards the team has met to automatically qualify for the Drake Relays:

• 4x100: 50.36 - Ruby Leman, Emily Heitzman, Shea Johnson, and Ellie Mead

• Shuttle Hurdle: 1:04.51 - Annie Smith, Franny Brooks, Alex Gaskell, and Ruby Leman

• April 6 - Dr. Brooks Relays at Valley High School

• April 9 - Gary DouBrava Invitational at Urbandale High School

• April 11 - Northwest Girls Relays at Waukee Northwest High School