‘Keep building, keep grinding’

There was nothing dull about the Creston girls track and field season this year and coaches Clay and Maggie Arnold tried to end it that way as well by moving the end of the year banquet into the auditorium.

The girls sat on the stage where all the parents and family in attendance looked on as the Arnolds listed off the accomplishments of the team and a number of individuals whose names now are etched onto the walls for all to see.

From senior leadership to impactful, learning freshmen the Panthers had it all.

Outgoing senior Cayla Maitlen ends her track and field career with 850.5 total points earned at events, the second most in the Arnolds’ tenure behind just Taylor Briley.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without four years of Cayla,” Arnold said.

Kiersten Latham and Stephanie Hemsworth led the Panther seniors in individual team points over the course of the season and capped off their last race, along with Maitlen, on the blue oval at the Co-Ed State Track and Field Meet.

“She (Latham) had zero bad races all year,” said Clay Arnold. “We absolutely needed her to be the rock of our sprinting core and she was that and then some.”

“Great improvement for us. Well documented knee aliments, but she (Hemsworth) bounced back. She’s always a hard worker,” said Arnold.

Seniors Faith Wilson and Danielle Castillo also wrapped up their time as Panthers as four-year varsity letterwinners.

Brielle Baker was the lone junior athlete, as she ended her year at the Co-Ed State Track and Field Meet as well, along with tallying the second most team points of any Creston individual this season.

MaKenna Hudson ended her historic sophomore campaign with 372 team points to her name and was regarded as the only athlete under the Arnold’s tenure to record 40 points at the Hawkeye 10 conference meet. Hudson qualified for four different events at the state meet.

“She has a great attitude. A great work ethic and really put her talents out there on the track so that her teammates could benefit from them,” said Clay Arnold about Hudson.

Plenty of other sophomores contributed over the course of the season, including Ashley Reynard and Brittany Linch, who will be expected to carry even more weight next season. Abbi Hood, Allivea Skarda and Payton Burg finished their sophomore seasons as well.

Of all the standouts in the program, freshman Kelsey Fields was the only Creston athlete to medal at the state meet when she took sixth in the shot put. Fields set a school record in the discus at the Hawkeye 10 conference meet with a throw of 126 feet, 10 inches.

“Kelsey had a fantastic freshman campaign,” said Arnold enthusiastically. “From day one, went out there and was always interested in becoming better. ... Hopefully this is just the bare tip of the iceberg.”

Freshmen Peyton Rice and Morgan Buxton were also both state qualifiers in their respective events. Angelina Chuong also will be expected to bring back even more impact in the season to come.

Rachel Boyer, Ali Christensen, Molly Sickels, Ryli Abildtrup and Paige Davis completed their first season of track and field.

The Panthers distance medley relay team of Latham, Baker, Maitlen and Hudson broke the school record at the state meet in 4:15.75. It marked the third time the record has been broken in the Arnold’s eight-year tenure.

Both coaches urged all the girls to put in their share of work in the offseason, pushing the envelope in efforts to get Creston its first team Hawkeye 10 title since 1982.

Accolades

Varsity letterwinners —Seniors – Danielle Castillo 4, Stephanie Hemsworth 3, Kiersten Latham 4, Cayla Maitlen 4, Faith Wilson 4. Juniors – Brielle Baker 3. Sophomores – Abbi Hood 2, MaKenna Hudson 2, Brittany Linch 2, Ashley Reynard 1. Freshmen – Rachel Boyer 1, Morgan buxton 1, Ali Christensen 1, Angelina Chuong 1, Kelsey Fields 1, Peyton Rice 1, Molly Sickels 1. Managers – Billie Fogle 3, Mary Ott 3, Braelyn Baker 1, Samantha Dunphy 1, Payton Luther 1, Sydney Pantini 1.

State qualifying events — 4x800 meter relay: (Peyton Rice, Brielle Baker, Morgan Buxton and MaKenna Hudson). Distance medley: (Kiersten Latham, Cayla Maitlen, MaKenna Hudson and Brielle Baker). 4x400 meter relay: (Kiersten Latham, Stephanie Hemsworth, Brielle Baker, MaKenna Hudson). 800 meter dash: MaKenna Hudson. Shot put and discus: Kelsey Fields.

Hawkeye 10 individual titles — 4x800 meter relay: (Peyton Rice, Brielle Baker, Morgan Buxton and MaKenna Hudson). Distance medley: (Kiersten Latham, Cayla Maitlen, MaKenna Hudson and Brielle Baker). 4x400 meter relay: (Kiersten Latham, Stephanie Hemsworth, Brielle Baker, MaKenna Hudson). 800 meter dash: MaKenna Hudson.

Top point scorers season —MaKenna Hudson 372, Brielle Baker 322, Kiersten Latham 273, Stephanie Hemsworth 231, Cayla Maitlen 174.

Academic all-Hawkeye 10 – Cayla Maitlen, Faith Wilson