Panthers steady in final indoor meet

PELLA – In their final indoor meet before heading outdoors, the Creston girls track and field team put together a solid outing at Central College Friday.

A number of runners put together season best times and personal records over the course of the day, including Ali Christensen in the 3,000 meter run.

Christensen finished in 17th in a time of 12:59.24, besting her time from Monday by 13 seconds and impressing her head coach.

“She was excellent,” said Creston girls track and field coach Clay Arnold. “I was really happy with her. She ran real aggressively, so really proud of her effort.”

The Panthers put 10 girls in the 60 meter hurdles, but official times were posted incorrectly, according to Arnold.

Hannah Dryden led the Creston finishers with a result of 43rd while MaKenna Hudson and Ashley Reynard took 46th and 62nd, respectively.

Kelsey Fields tossed the shot put 38 feet, five inches to take home second place behind Lexie Magnani of Mount Pleasant. Her sister, Brianna Fields, finished in 26th place with a throw of 29 feet, four and a half inches.

Kelsey Fields posted over a two-foot improvement from her throws Monday in Ames.

“We’re really happy with those shot girls,” said Arnold. “We’ve still yet to have access to our own rings at home so the only two times they’ve thrown out of the rings has been at those two meets.”

The Panthers also put two entries into the 4x200 meter relay and the 4x800 meter relay.

As a unit, Hudson, Dryden, Brianna Fields and Kelsey Fields finished as the better of the two groups running for Creston, taking 16th in the 4x200.

Ashley Reynard, Brittany Linch, Angelina Chuong and Ally Worthington finished just behind the first group in 23rd with a time of 2:02.33.

“We ran two 4x2’s and I thought both did a pretty good job,” Arnold said.

Paige Davis opened the 4x800 with a new personal record on her leg, which helped her, Dryden, Chuong and Worthington secure a ninth place finish overall.

UP NEXT – The Creston girls will get to host their first meet of the year Tuesday when Clarinda, Glenwood, Red Oak and Shenandoah come to town for the Hawkeye 10 South Division meet.

Final results

4x200 meter relay – 1. Southeast Polk, 1:50.08; 16. Creston, (MaKenna Hudson, Hannah Dryden, Brianna Fields, Kelsey Fields), 2:00.44; 23. Creston, (Ashley Reynard, Brittany Linch, Angelina Chuong, Ally Worthington), 2:02.33.

4x800 meter relay – 1. Ankenny Centennial, 10:16.46; 9. Creston, (Paige Davis, Hannah Dryden, Angelina Chuong, MaKenna Hudson).

3,000 meter run – 1. Carolina McMartin, Pella, 11:06.68; 17. Ali Christensen, Creston, 12:59.24.

High jump – 1. Miracle Ailes, Keokuk, 5-8; t21. Ryli Abildtrup, Creston, 4-6.

Long jump – 1. Adelynn Ahartz, Carlisle, 16-3; 62. Ashley Reynard, Creston, 8-2; 64. Taylor Seaton, Creston, 7-8.

Shot put – 1. Lexie Magnani, Mt. Pleasant, 40-8; 2. Kelsey Fields, Creston, 38-5; 26. Brianna Fields, Creston, 29-4 1/2.