March 28, 2024

Panther girls not sharp in second-place finish

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CARLISLE — The Creston girls track team tied for second place with Winterset here Thursday at the Carlisle Girls Track Classic.

Still, head coach Clay Arnold saw plenty of things that need to be cleaned up before next Thursday's Hawkeye 10 Conference Meet.

After hustling to make the 16-mile drive from Drake Stadium to Carlisle after Hannah Hood finished ninth at the Drake Relays in the shot put, Arnold arrived just in time to see a mishap in the distance medley relay.

The Panthers dropped the baton in the second exchange, but Stephanie Hemsworth battled back to get the Panthers into contention. Still, Creston ended up third.

The 4x800 and 4x200 relays didn't live up to Arnold's expectations, either. And on the night before she was set to run the 100 meter hurdles at the Drake Relays, senior Amber Castillo lost her steps in the event.

"We just weren't sharp. I don't think we were very mentally prepared to run tonight," Arnold said. "Last night's practice got shortened because the tornado was coming. No excuse, they just weren't ready to run."

Still, there were some highlights for the Panthers.

The sprint medley relay team of Cayla Maitlen, Castillo, Hemsworth and Taylor Briley ran its fastest time of the season in 1:57.40 for the victory. Briley anchored with a 1:02.18 400-meter leg.

The Panther 4x400 relay team of Jesse Vicker, Breanna Wallace, Hemsworth and Briley also picked up a gold medal, running 4:20.64.

Wallace again lowered her time, running just her third 400 of the season and only her second 4x400 relay. The returning state qualifier split a 1:04.91.

Freshman Brielle Baker won the 800 meters in 2:30.98 and placed second in the 1,500 meters in 5:19.78. The Panther freshman also finished second in the 400 meter dash with her time of 1:03.92.

Maitlen continued her strong week, taking fifth in the 100 meters in 13.79, running a 27.58-second split on the 4x200, leading off the winning sprint medley and anchoring the 4x100 relay team in 13.00.

"Maitlen had a huge week," Arnold said.

Wallace came through in a big way for the Panthers in the high jump, as well. Wallace, who tied for sixth place in the event at state last year, cleared 5-0 for the first time this season and won the event based on misses at 4-10.

"Very exciting in just her fourth outing in the high jump," Arnold said. "From all reports, she looked good doing it."

Cammy Rutherford threw a new PR of 32-0 in the shot put competition for sixth place.

Creston got season's best times from Kristy Powers in the 3,000 (13:07.08) and Kiersten Latham (29.62) and Josie Sickels (29.82) in the 200 meter dash. Jami Sickels took sixth in the 800 meters with her time of 2:42.92. Lexie Little finished sixth in the 400 meter hurdles.

The Panthers travel to Atlantic on Monday for a co-ed meet in the final meet before next Thursday's Hawkeye 10 Conference Meet.

"Monday's meet is going to be real nice competition again," Arnold said. "Good tuneup for Thursday's conference meet. No room for error now."

Carlisle Girls Track Classic

Team standings — 1. Carlisle 166.5, 2. Creston 94. 2. Winterset 94, 4. Grinnell 90.5, 5. Norwalk 84, 6. Bondurant-Farrar 60, 7. Knoxville 54, 8. ADM 45, 9. Nevada 36, 10. Saydel 13.

Discus — 1. Julia Naber, Wint, 102-3; 9. Faith Wilson, Creston, 88-8; 13. Cammy Rutherford, Creston, 85-3.

Shot put — 1. Lexy Koudelka, Nev, 35-2; 6. Cammy Rutherford, Creston, 32-0; 8. Faith Wilson, Creston, 31-10.

High jump — 1. Breanna Wallace, Creston, 5-0.

Long jump — 1. Sienna Durr, Grin, 16-6.50.

3,000 meters — 1. Megan Sievers, Carl, 11:34.79; 9. Kristy Powers, Creston, 13:07.08.

4 x 800 relay — 1. ADM, 10:18.05; 2. Creston (Jessica Beatty, Jesse Vicker, Jami Sickels, Taylor Briley), 10:26.16.

Shuttle hurdle relay — 1. ADM, 1:08.86.

100 meters — 1. Macy Johnson, Wint, 13.10; 5. Cayla Maitlen, Creston, 13.79; Kiersten Latham, Creston, 14.30.

Distance medley relay — 1. Carlisle, 4:38.07; 3. Creston (Amber Castillo, Josie Sickels, Stephanie Hemsworth, Jesse Vicker), 4:44.73.

400 meters — 1. Taylor Vanderholt, Nor, 1:01.22; 2. Brielle Baker, Creston, 1:03.92; 8. Rachel Shepherd, Creston, 1:09.16.

4 x 200 relay — 1. Carlisle, 1:50.74; 4. Creston (Amber Castillo, Jessica Beatty, Cayla Maitlen, Stephanie Hemsworth), 1:53.01.

100 hurdles — 1. Aricka Lambson, Carl, 16.67; Lexie Little, Creston, 18.38; Amber Castillo, Creston, 20.53.

800 meters — 1. Brielle Baker, Creston, 2:30.98; 6. Jami Sickels, Creston, 2:42.92.

200 meters — 1. Kendrea Richardson, Knox, 26.60; Kiersten Latham, Creston, 29.62; Josie Sickels, Creston, 29.82.

400 hurdles — 1. Aricka Lambson, Carl, 1:09.87; 6. Lexie Little, Creston, 1:15.96.

Sprint medley relay — 1. Creston (Cayla Maitlen, Amber Castillo, Stephanie Hemsworth, Taylor Briley), 1:57.40.

1,500 meters — 1. Megan Sievers, 5:18.01; 2. Brielle Baker, Creston, 5:19.78; 8. Jessica Beatty, Creston, 5:42.13.

4 x 100 relay — 1. Nevada, 52.90; 7. Creston (Rachel Shepherd, Josie Sickels, Kiersten Latham, Cayla Maitlen), 54.86.

4 x 400 relay — 1. Creston (Jesse Vicker, Breanna Wallace, Stephanie Hemsworth, Taylor Briley), 4:20.64.