Creston finishes well in Ames

AMES – The Creston girls track team kicked off its indoor track season in Ames Monday afternoon, racing in the 26th annual Iowa State High School Classic.

Head coach Clay Arnold explained his satisfaction with the opening meet of the season, saying it’s one of the best they’ve ever had with such an underclassmen heavy lineup.

“We had a lot of freshmen and sophomores with our lone senior (Brielle Baker) not there, so a lot of underclassmen girls,” said Arnold. “I was very pleased with all of them.”

Kelsey Fields had the best placing of her Panther teammates. The sophomore finished fifth of 97 at the meet in shot put with a throw of 36 feet, 3 inches.

Fields also was slotted into the 800-meter sprint medley, running alongside Brittany Linch, Peyton Rice, and her sister Brianna Fields.

The group ran a time of 2 minutes, 6.44 seconds, finishing 41st of 69 teams.

“She had a very good first night,” said Arnold of Kelsey Fields. “Last year as a freshman her first throw up here was a 34-8, and this year she’s thrown a 36-3, so we’re pretty happy with that.

Arnold also raved about Rice, saying her night at Iowa State was excellent.

“She led off our 4x800, which got 11th place,” said Arnold on Rice. “She led us off with a 2:39. ... They did a really good job, everyone in that group.”

The group of Rice, Paige Davis, Hannah Dryden and MaKenna Hudson won their heat with the two rookies in Dryden and Davis, said Arnold.

A young group that has its share of experience and inexperience, an event hosting more than 60 teams did not get to the girls making their high school track and field debuts.

“The older girls did a good job of helping the younger girls out in getting them prepared and keeping them sharp,” said Arnold. “There’s way more recovery time in between races with such a big meet. ... I thought we did a good job of being prepared for each race.”

Arnold leaned on freshman Brianna Fields in the second leg of the 4x400, ultimately compiling a good time with the group. Arnold’s knowledge of Fields’ ability to run the event dated back to before she entered high school.

“She ran a couple of 400’s as an eighth grader towards the end of the season for us, so we knew she could definitely do it, but that’s a big stage up there and we’re very happy with what she did,” said Arnold.

Of the veteran runners for the Panthers, Hudson’s 800 meter time of 2:34.04 had the highest finish. Hudson opened her season with a 14th place finish, missing 13th by two one hundredths of a second.

With still a lot of season left, and time to work out the kinks and to get in top shape, Arnold is pleased with what he has seen so far from his girls after the first meet.

“In the first meet of the year, I didn’t see anything bad. ... I was definitely pleased with our overall performance,” said Arnold.

UP NEXT – The Panthers will hit the track again on Friday. They’ll head to Central College where Pella hosts its next meet.

Results

60 dash – 1. Darby Thomas, CB Abraham Lincoln, 7.85; 60. Ashley Reynard, Creston, 8.94; 88. Makayla McIntosh, Creston, 9.32.

60 hurdles – 1. Peyton Steva, Iowa City West, 8.83; 81. Angelica Chuong, Creston, 11.59; 86. Brittany Linch, Creston, 11.80.

800 meters – 1. Grace Larkins, Southeast Polk, 2:17.09; 14. MaKenna Hudson, Creston, 2:34.04; 40. Molly Sickels, Creston, 2:48.13.

1500 meters – 1. Ainsley Erzen, Carlisle, 4:58.24; 44. Page Davis, Creston, 5:50.84; 57. Ali Christensen, Creston, 6:15.90.

3000 meters – 1. Marie Hostetler, Mid-Prairie, 10:19.93; 45. Ali Christensen, Creston, 13:12.51; 50. Angelica Chuong, Creston, 13:57.6.

High jump – 1. Reagan Dahlquist, Waverly, 5-06.25; 46. Ryli Abildtrup, Creston, 4-04.00.

Long jump – 1. Darby Thomas, CB Abraham Lincoln, 18-02.75; 86. Taylor Seaton, Creston, 8-03.25.

Shot put – 1. Lauren Payne, LC, 40-10.50; 5. Kelsey Fields, Creston, 36-03.00; Brianna Fields, Creston, 27-07.25.

800 relay – 1. Southeast Polk, 1:53.07; 41. Creston (Brittany Linch, Brianna Fields, Kelsey Fields, Peyton Rice), 2:06.44.

4x100 relay – 1. Waukee, 50.82; 55. Creston (Ashley Reynard, Angelica Chuong, Taylor Seaton, Lexi Gutknecht), 1:05.45.

4x400 relay – 1. Southeast Polk, 4:02:48; 16. Creston (Peyton Rice, Brianna Fields, Hannah Dryden, MaKenna Hudson), 4:28.06.

4x800 relay – 1. IFA Girls, 9:37:31; 11. Creston (Peyton Rice, Hannah Dryden, Paige Davis, MaKenna Hudson), 10:37:94.