June 27, 2025
Local NewsState & National

Panthers compete well at ‘mini-state meet’

By SCOTT VICKER

Creston sophomore Rachel Shepherd leads a pack of runners as they crest a hill about 1.5 miles into the 4K varsity girls Class A/B race at the Ballard Invitational on Monday. Shepherd finished 44th in 18:53 for the Panthers. (CNA photo)

HUXLEY — A grand total of 12 ranked teams competed here Monday evening at the Ballard Invitational, a meet that has been called a “mini-state meet.”

In the Class A/B combined varsity races, there were 10 ranked boys runners from Class 3A and 11 ranked girls runners from Class 3A.

That gave the Creston cross country teams some solid competition to face.

The Panther girls finished fourth out of 10 teams in Class B, while the boys placed fifth out of 10 teams in Class B.

“The purpose of being up there was the competition,” Creston head coach Pat Schlapia said. “It was a mini-state meet.”

The Panthers didn’t back away from the tough competition.

On the boys side, frontrunners Cooper McDermott and Jay Wolfe finished fifth and seventh, respectively. Both runners finished ahead of the top runner in Class A.

McDermott crossed the line in 16:55, with Wolfe following in 17:07.

Gilbert’s Thomas Pollard, who owns the fastest 3,200 meter time on the track in Iowa history, won the race in 15:43. Luke Kohut-Jackson of Ballard finished third in 16:33.

“We saw Kohut-Jackson last week at Greene County and we wanted another shot at him,” Schlapia said. “We wanted a shot at all of them. Those boys did a fantastic job. It’s nice to see those boys go after the top ones in the state.”

Senior Brant Hudson finished 38th in 19:48, followed by junior Nick Walsh in 20:25 for 49th place and sophomore Isaac Wignall rounded out the team scoring by placing 50th in 20:34.

Kyle Jennett ran 20:50 for 51st place and Dylan Linch finished 57th in 21:46.

Sophomore Ben Irr was once again held out with injury.

“With Gilbert and Ballard, the quality of teams we had, the boys finished fifth, nipping Nevada by one point,” Schlapia said. “Even not at full strength, that was awesome to see the boys compete. That’s just going to be an ongoing process for us through the season of wanting to close the gaps.”

Girls

On the girls side, Maria Mostek notched another top 10 performance, finishing sixth in the Class B competition.

The Panther senior crossed the finish line in 16:02.

“This was her fourth race at Ballard, and I think this is by far her strongest race yet at Ballard,” Schlapia said. “She was so close to getting under 16. That’s one of her goals. She’s going to get that.”

Madison Hance in 25th and Jessica Beatty in 30th were able to cut the gap on Mostek a little, but Schlapia said they’ll still need to continue closing the gap. Lexie Little finished 36th in 18:13.

Rachel Shepherd rounded out the team scoring, running 18:53 for 44th place. Maddie Skarda and Madison Callahan both ran 19:10, finishing 47th and 48th, respectively.

Senior Raegen Smith paced the Panther JV, running 18:17 for 14th place.

The Panther girls finished fourth out of 10 schools, finishing behind Class 3A ranked teams Gilbert (first) and Humboldt (ninth), as well as Ballard.

“One reason we go that far is for the competition,” Schlapia said. “This gives us something to look at, something to shoot for now. Individually, we’ve seen some outstanding things. Team wise, it’s still a work in progress.”

Creston returns to action Thursday at Winterset, where the middle school girls will kick off action at 4:30 p.m., followed by middle school boys at 4:50. All high school girls run at 5:10 and all high school boys run at 5:30.

BALLARD INVITATIONAL

CLASS B

GIRLS TEAM SCORES

1. Gilbert 24, 2. Ballard 48, 3. Humboldt 69, 4. Creston 141, 5. ADM 160, 6. Bondurant-Farrar 173, 7. Madrid 188, 8. Nevada 199, 9. Saydel 240, 10. Clarke 247.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

Leaders — 1. Abby Kohut-Jackson, Ballard, 14:51; 2. Grace Gibbons, Gilbert, 15:04; 3. Carly Rahn, Gilbert, 15:42; 4. Karli Rastetter, Gilbert, 15:45; 5. Maddie Kampen, Humboldt, 15:47; 6. Maria Mostek, Creston, 16:02; 7. Livvy Hampton, Gilbert, 16:28; 8. Maggie pollard, Gilbert, 16:28; 9. Summer McVicker, Ballard, 16:42; 10. Kate Curran, Humboldt, 16:45.

Creston — 6. Maria Mostek, 16:02; 25. Madison Hance, 17:49; 30. Jessica Beatty, 17:59; 36. Lexie Little, 18:13; 44. Rachel Shepherd, 18:53; 47. Maddie Skarda, 19:10; 48. Madison Callahan, 19:10.

Creston JV — 14. Raegen Smith, 18:17; 37. Savannah Hartman, 19:15; 43. Danielle Castillo, 19:23; 44. Angela Drey, 19:29; 55. Jordan Moreland, 19:46; 60. Cora Green, 19:49; 63. Amber Castillo, 19:52; 67. Jenna Hayes, 19:55; 71. Micah McCutchan, 20:00; 126. Ann Waigand, 21:35; 140. Sydney Suiter, 21:51; 148. Caitlyn Clayton, 21:57; 197. Alyssa Trembly, 23:39.

BOYS TEAM SCORES

CLASS B

1. Gilbert 26, 2. Ballard 73, 3. Saydel 82, 4. Bondurant-Farrar 128, 5. Creston 149, 6. Nevada 150, 7. Humboldt 159, 8. ADM 220, 9. Madrid 229, 10. Clarke 263.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

Leaders — 1. Thomas Pollard, Gilbert, 15:43; 2. Wesley Greder, Gilbert, 16:20; 3. Luke Kohut-Jackson, Ballard, 16:33; 4. Bradley Richard, Gilbert, 16:44; 5. Cooper McDermott, Creston, 16:55; 6. Casey Roberts, Saydel, 16:58; 7. Jay Wolfe, Creston, 17:07; 8. David Parker, Saydel, 17:48; 9. Owen Whitham, Gilbert, 17:58; 10. Will Greder, Gilbert, 18:06.

Creston — 5. Cooper McDermott, 16:55; 7. Jay Wolfe, 17:07; 38. Brant Hudson, 19:48; 49. Nick Walsh, 20:25; 50. Isaac Wignall, 20:34; 51. Kyle Jennett, 20:50; 57. Dylan Linch, 21:46.

Creston JV — 72. Cody Wagner, 20:48; 149. Trey Gift, 22:21; 156. Cade Vicker, 22:29; 170. Tyler Helm, 22:45; 228. Patrick Normandeau, 23:59; 243. Travis Purdy, 24:14; 318. Elijah Johnson, 28:45.