<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0lN9Sp_0vm04J3t00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0lN9Sp_0vm04J3t00" width="2048" height="1365" ><figcaption>The Ankeny runners take off at the start of the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on Sept. 5 at the Iowa State cross country course in Ames. From right are Ethan Zuber, Isaiah Smith, Nicholas Robie, Justice Rathje (behind Robie) and Jackson Kaiser. Zuber won the Eastern Iowa Classic on Thursday at the Seminole Valley Park cross country course in Cedar Rapids, posting a time of 15 minutes 14 seconds to lead the Hawks to a runner-up finish. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)</figcaption></figure>The Ankeny boys’ cross country team raced to a second-place finish in the Eastern Iowa Classic on Thursday at the Seminole Valley Park cross country course in Cedar Rapids.The sixth-ranked Hawks placed four runners in the top 20 and finished with 72 points. No. 8 Iowa City High won the team title with 66 points.No. 5 Norwalk placed third in the 11-team field with 85 points.“We had a really solid night of racing,” said Ankeny coach Jon Lindaman. “We have never been to Seminole Valley, so we were not sure what to expect. It was a smaller meet, but very competitive. These smaller meets can adversely affect our team score, because there are just not as many jerseys between our 1-2 and the other teams’ 1-2 runners. Our team is still a work in progress, but we ran really well. We raced together and had a good energy. Our goal remains the same–to be on the podium at the state meet. If we continue to race like we did tonight, we will be in a great spot to do this.“We have had some courses measure short, some long, so it was really nice to race on a 3.1 mile course tonight,” he added.Ankeny’s Ethan Zuber pulled away from the field to win the 5K race in a time of 15 minutes 14 seconds. It was his second victory of the season and the 10th of his career.Zuber, the defending Class 4A state champion, finished 18 seconds ahead of runner-up Slader Buckheister of Cedar Rapids Kennedy.“Zuber always gets everyone’s best shot, and although there were some great runners in the field, it was a pretty chill race for him,” Lindaman said. “He ran with a very comfortable lead the entire race and was able to go out and just run really relaxed.”Isaiah Smith placed fourth for the Hawks. He was clocked in 15:35.“Isaiah ran a really smart race and mixed it up with some other top-ranked kids,” Lindaman said. “A runner from Iowa City West (Moustafa Tiea) and Kennedy (Buckheister) got him in the kick, but I am quite certain he won’t allow that to happen again.”Justice Rathje and Nicholas Robie both posted a time of 16:19, placing 18th and 19th, respectively. Zach Riley and Tate Brownsberger were both clocked in 16:40–they took 30th and 31st, respectively.Ankeny’s Jackson Kaiser placed 37th in 16:50, Brett Augustine was 38th in 16:52, and Miles Harbert finished 59th in 17:36.“Justice and Nick did a much better job of running together, and I think it helped both of them,” Lindaman said. “They both looked really smooth and had outstanding races. Their confidence will continue to grow, and they will be ready to rip. Riley continues to improve each meet; I think he is starting to figure out how good he can be. Brownsberger ran right with our 3-4 runners the first couple miles, so it is only a matter of time until he gets through the whole race with them. Only 2 seconds separated Kaiser and Augustine. I am so proud of how far these guys have come from last year to now. Harbert rounded out our varsity running in the mid 17’s, which is a really nice time for a freshman that is new to all this.”The Hawks will compete in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Thursday.</div></body>

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Zuber earns 10th career win, leads Hawks to 2nd-place finish at Eastern Iowa Classic

The Ankeny boys’ cross country team raced to a second-place finish in the Eastern Iowa Classic on Thursday at the Seminole Valley Park cross country course in Cedar Rapids. The sixth-ranked Hawks placed four runners in the top 20 and finished with 72 points. No. 8 Iowa City High won the team title with 66 points.