Creston girls look to take step toward H-10 title

A year removed from yet another runner-up finish to Glenwood at the Hawkeye 10 Conference Meet and an overall strong finish heading into state competition, the Creston girls track and field team has its sights set straight ahead.

Seven weeks into practice and with three indoor meets under their belts, the Creston girls are still finding their footing.

Coach Clay Arnold called last year’s senior class the most accomplished in school history. But even for them, questions lingered coming into the year.

In the end, the Panthers qualified 12 individuals and six relays for state.

“Five girls that were huge parts of this team, scored a ton of points, really great leaders and dedicated teammates,” Arnold said. “We’re working really hard to find our identity in terms of who’s going to be leaders and who’s going to step into new positions.”

This season, Arnold has plenty of talent on the squad, but he just wants his group healthy.

Injuries and fatigue from winter sports season has carried over into track.

So now, rehabilitation, lifting, and other workout regiments are needed to get the Panthers in gear.

“We put a huge emphasis on weight training, strength training, core training, agility training,” Arnold said. “We’ve seen a lot of improvements there.”

The Panthers have a strong core back for distance relays, and won’t have many weak spots in any leg of any relay.

Sophomores Brielle Baker and Saige Rice will have a great deal of responsibility heaped upon their shoulders, with both set to enter into relay competition. Baker will excel in the 800 as well.

Runners like Rachel Shepherd, Danielle Castillo, Kiersten Latham and freshman MaKenna Hudson saw extensive opportunities in the indoor season, while Cayla Maitlen is a versatile competitor. All will be competing at the varsity level to start the year.

Relay strongholds Jesse Vicker and Stephanie Hemsworth are still trying to get healthy for the season.

Assistant coach Gary O’Daniels is back to work more with the long distance girls.

Turning in strong performances in the indoor meets thus far were the likes of Hudson (in the 400 meter dash and long jump), Baker (800 meters) and Castillo (long jump).

Where his Panther runners fit into sprints and relays is yet to be seen.

Among throwers, Hannah Hood and Faith Wilson have thrown indoor shot put this spring so far, with Hood, the school-record holder in the shot put, putting up some impressive numbers. Her shot put throw at Graceland is tops in the 3A this spring.

Hood placed fifth in 3A in the shot put last spring and ninth at the Drake Relays.

More than anything, Arnold expects his girls to put in the work to achieve greatness.

“I just want to know who’s tough and who’s dependable. That’s all I ever want to know,” Arnold said.

Everything considered, the end destination is what the team looks toward.

The Panthers have come in second or third in the Hawkeye 10 each of the last six seasons and 1982 was the last time the Panthers girls track team won the conference title.

“Every day that’s what we’re looking to do is build the team up so we can peak at the end of the season,” Arnold said.

Boys

The Creston boys team will be running the fewest number of runners in coach Pat Schlapia’s 25 -year tenure as head coach.

It’s not an encouraging prospect for the team. But that can’t weigh on the minds of the members of the squads. They can’t control it.

“We’re a team. We’re still going to compete as a team and as individuals,” Schlapia said. “We’re still going to have ‘Creston’ across our chests.”

Junior Dalten Bierle is the returning lone letterwinner for the team, and Schlapia expects him to provide leadership. Bierle could run the 400, 800, or even throw himself into the long jump.

While young guys Ashton Wills and Zac Hague can throw, both might be expected to help in relays, while Willis could run in longer distance races after competing in cross country.

Assitant coach Steve Birchard will help the boys throwers.

Jared Moreland, Camden Peterson, Hank Looney and Isaac Ralston round out the boys roster.

Versatility will prove essential to this group as they go through the feeling out prcoess of of finding their roles on the varsity roster.

New to the boys meets this season; the boys will follow the same order as the girls. The boys also added the sprint medley similar to what the girls run.