April 05, 2026
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Creston middle school cross country results

By STAFF REPORT

Front Row (left to right): Foster McCutchan, Isaac Shields, Justin Parsons, Lucas Veatch. Second Row: Paige Davis, Peyton Rice, Angelina Chuong, Rachel Boyer, Ali Christensen. Back Row: Bianca Flores (manager), Clayton Stafford, Tristan Callahan, Braelyn Baker, Morgan Buxton, Keagan Trembly, Daniel Merritt, Kenna Tomas (manager). Not pictured: Tristen Rice (manager). (Submitted photo)

Creston’s middle school cross country teams were busy recently.

On Oct. 13, the Panthers ran at the Hawkeye 10 Conference meet.

This year’s meet was run on the campus of Iowa Western Community College.

The course there was different from when the meet was held in Council Bluffs a coupe of years ago.

“We had never been to the course at Council Bluffs before so it was a new experience for everyone,” said Creston middle school coach Maggie Arnold.

The new layout took some adjusting.

“It was flat and fast — not something that our kids are used to,” Arnold said. “Some of the athletes did not get as fast of a start as they should have and had to play catch-up through the rest of the race.”

Creston did have an individual champion. Clayton Stafford won the boys race in 11 minutes, 42 seconds.

“Clayton ran really well. He went out from the gun and chased the gator,” Arnold said.

Stafford’s strong start propelled him to the win.

“Clayton’s strength is in the first part of his race. He knows that there are athletes with better kicks, so he beats them and the beginning and punishes them in the middle of the race, so it doesn’t come down to a kick,” Arnold said. “He had a little extra left at the end of the race and really ran away with it in the final stretch.”

Stafford took control early.

“Watching Clayton win that boys race was exciting. There was no doubt the entire race that he was in control,” Arnold said. “This is his first year going out for cross country and he has done a tremendous job. He is a very coachable athlete and competes hard. He lacked the confidence in the first meet to just take over, but from then on, he has really went out hard and has made an expectation for himself to win every race. He is a natural talent and can do big things to help out the boys team in high school next year.”

The Panthers had two other medalists. Braelyn Baker was third in the girls race, while Rachel Boyer was 10th. Morgan Buxton placed 11th to just miss placing.

The Panther girls and boys concluded their season at the Washburn Classic, the state junior high meet on Oct. 22 in Saydel.

The state meet was the last opportunity for the athletes to compete for the season and for the majority of them, their last middle school race ever,” Arnold said.

Stafford was sixth in the boys eighth grade race to lead the Panthers.

“Clayton Stafford really stood out again for us,” Arnold said. “He ran an even faster time on Saturday than he did on Thursday (at the Hawkeye 10 meet).”

Baker was eighth in the girls race.

Arnold touted Paige Davis’ race. Davis was 47th.

“Paige Davis improved her time from last year at the same meet,” Arnold said. “I always show the kids their times from the year before and the goal is to always improve — whether that be by two seconds or two minutes. Paige is a kid that has improved her time from last year and every meet this season. She is the most improved athlete on the team.”

The meet was an opportunity for the eighth-graders to compare how they improved.

“As well as comparing times each meet to how they did last year, I also show them results from previous years, so they can gauge where they are at among the high school kids from when they were in middle school,” Arnold said. “This group of eighth grade girls has a lot of talent (all seven) and they will make an impact next year at the high school level.”

Both the boys and girls gave benefited from new additions.

“Morgan Buxton, another new addition as an eighth grader, has ran consistently in the second and third spot this season for our girls team,” Arnold said. “Braelyn and Morgan decided to try cross country after a successful seventh grade track season. They are the 1,500 and 800 meter seventh-grade record holders as well as members of the seventh grade 4x800 record-setting relay.”

Returning eighth graders showed plenty of measurable improvement.

“Ali Christensen, Paige Davis and Keagan Trembly have been dropping a minute or more from their previous season times each race,” Arnold said.

The seventh grade newcomers had plenty of success that excited Arnold.

“Seventh graders Justin Parsons, Tristan Callahan, Lucas Veatch, and Isaac Shields have also made huge improvements from the start of the season,” Arnold said. “Parsons and Shields have gotten a lot stronger as runners from the beginning of the season. If there is a hill to be ran, those two run it fiercely and pick up a lot of momentum coming out of them.”

Included below are the meet results from results provided by coach Arnold.

Winterset meet

Girls 2nd place

2. Braelyn Baker, 12:58; 10. Morgan Buxton, 14:02; 12. Rachel Boyer 14:17; Peyton Rice, 14:33; 16. Paige Davis, 14:34; 59. Ali Christensen, 17:05; 77. Angelina Chuong 18:07.

Boys 4th place

4. Clayton Stafford, 12:05; 13. Keagan Trembly 12:50; 14. Daniel Merritt, 12:52; 56. Isaac Shields, 15:08; 67. Justin Parons, 15:42; 69. Foster McCutchan, 15:52; 107. Lucas Veatch, 19:54; 113. Tristan Callahan, 20:44.

OM Meet

Girls 1st place

2. Morgan Buxton 14:25; 3. Rachel Boyer, 14:39; 4. Peyton Rice, 15:12; 5. Paige Davis, 15:16; 20. Angelina Chuong 16:26; 21. Ali Christensen, 16:39.

Boys 2nd place

1. Clayton Stafford, 12:16; 6. Kegan Trembly, 13:26; 7. Daniel Merritt, 13:29; 25. Justin Parsons, 15:48; 26. Isaac Shields, 16:10; 29. Foster McCutchan, 16:28; 30. Tristan Callahan, 16:29; 32. Lucas Veatch, 17:11.

Perry Meet

Girls 3rd place

2. Braelyn Baker, 13:14; 13. Rachel Boyer, 14:00; 14. Morgan Buxton, 14:08; 23. Paige Davis, 14:48; 25. Peyton Rice, 14:55; 35. Angelina Chuong, 15:35; 37. Ali Christensen, 15:39.

Boys 10th place

3. Clayton Stafford, 12:12; 37. Kegan Trembly, 13:41; 73. Justin Parsons, 15:12; 89. Isaac Shields, 15:43; 100. Tristan Callahan, 16:01; 138. Lucas Veatch, 18:18.

Nowaday Valley Meet

Girls 1st place

1. Braelyn Baker, 13:36; 2. Rachel Boyer 14:27; 4. Morgan Buxton, 14:29; 5. Paige Davis, 14:45; 16. Peyton Rice, 15:51; 24. Ali Christensen, 16:21; 32. Angelina Chuong, 16:42.

Boys 3rd place

1. Clayton Stafford, 12:15; 11. Daniel Merritt, 13:47; 15. Keagan Trembly, 14:12; 34. Justin Parsons, 15:51;  35. Isaac Shields, 15:56; 38. Foster McCutchan, 16:22; 50. Tristan Callahan, 17:04; 69. Lucas Veatch, 21:27.

Hawkeye 10 meet

Girls 3rd place

3. Braelyn Baker, 12:50; 10. Rachel Boyer, 13:33; 11. Morgan Buxton, 13:36; 26. Paige Davis, 14:40; 32. Peyton Rice, 14:56; 47. Ali Christensen, 15:25; 48. Angelina Chuong, 15:26.

Boys 4th place

1. Clayton Stafford, 11:42; 14. Daniel Merritt, 12:57; 20. Keagan Trembly, 13:23; 47. Justin Parsons, 14:52;49. Isaac Shields, 15:00; 64. Tristan Callahan, 15:44; 66. Foster McCutchan, 15:46.

State Meet (22nd Washburn Classic)

Girls 6th place

8. Braelyn Baker, 12:47; 24. Rachel Boyer, 13:42; 35. Morgan Buxton, 14:05; 47. Paige Davis, 14:20; 58. Peyton Rice, 14:39; 62. Ali Christensen, 14:48; 65. Angelina Chuong, 14:53.

Boys 8th

6. Clayton Stafford, 11:19; 25. Daniel Merritt, 12:23; 61. Keagan Trembly, 13:35.

Boys 7th

52. Justin Parsons, 14:34; 53. Isaac Shields, 14:35.

Creston meet results were included in the Sept. 23 edition of CNA.