Track team honored for successful season

After a jam-packed season, the Creston track and field team was honored for their accomplishments by coaches Wednesday morning. The team also said goodbye to nine senior athletes.

Girls

The Panther girls sent five events to the state meet, more than doubling their two events from last year. Three relay teams competed at state, with the 4x800 relay team of Maylee Riley, Hope Henderson, Payton Davis and Cora Smith earning a medal and the best girls state ranking of eighth place with their time of 9:47.24.

The shuttle hurdle relay team of Kadley Bailey, Josie Tallmon, Karter Clayton and Henderson placed 16th with a time of 1:10.38. Placing 23rd was the sprint medley relay team of Clayton, Braylee Pokorny, Bailey and Cora Smith with a time of 1:54.57. Alternates for the various relays included Mia Strunk, Abby Freeman, Sydney Hoffman, Avery Staver, Kinzley Downing, Reese Strunk and Henley Shinn.

In individual events, Smith placed 15th in the 400m, with a time of 59.33 and Bailey placed 24th in the 100m hurdles with a time of 16.65. Bailey also was honored with the most season points at 380.

Seniors Clayton, Davis and Strunk were celebrated as four-year varsity letter winners. Clayton had the most career points at 592. The team received the distinguished academic honors from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union for a 3.704 team GPA.

Boys

The boys team medaled at state for the second year in a row, sending three athletes in four events to the state tournament. Tom Mikkelsen took the sole boys Creston medal, placing seventh in shot put with a throw of 53-02.75.

Brayden Schoon placed ninth in discus with a throw of 157-11. Seth Gordon competed in two events at state, getting a DQ in the 200m and 19th in the 100m with a time of 11.21.

Two school records were also broken this year. Mikkelson broke the shot put school record with a throw of 57-04.5, while the shuttle hurdle relay team of Durrell Haynes, Tyson Looney, Gavin Larson and Ryder Sharp brought the time time of 1:06.22 to the school records.

Seniors Looney, Tyler Riley and Schoon received varsity letters for the fourth year in a row. Other track seniors include Dawson Kibbe, Larson, and Drake Pendegraft.

Gordon earned the most season points at 253.5, while Riley earned the most career points at 472. The team received distinguished academic honors from the Iowa High School Athletic Association for a 3.271 team GPA.

GIRLS LETTER WINNERS

Managers:

Savanna Davis

Neveah Peña

Sidney Staver

Freshman:

1st letter -

Karlie Kruse

Henley Shinn

Cora Smith

Sophomores:

2nd letter -

Kinzley Downing

Hope Henderson

Reese Strunk

Josie Tallmon

Juniors:

3rd letter -

Abby Freeman

Braylee Pokorny

Maylee Riley

2nd letter -

Kadley Bailey

Sydney Hoffman

Avery Staver

1st letter -

Jaycee Hanson

Seniors:

4th letter -

Karter Clayton

Payton Davis

Mia Strunk

Participation:

MaKenna Dresback

Janea Green-Ngang

Haileigh Lundy

Trinitie Smith

Christina Strand

BOYS LETTER WINNERS

Managers:

Nate Bentley

Freshman

1st letter -

José Avila

Sophomores:

2nd letter -

Wyatt Goodenberger

Durrell Haynes

Tom Mikkelsen

Drake Wilson

1st letter -

Ryder Sharp

Juniors:

3rd letter -

Seth Gordon

2nd letter -

Jameson McDonald

Seniors:

4th letter -

Tyson Looney

Tyler Riley

Brayden Schoon

2nd letter -

Gavin Larson

1st letter -

Drake Pendegraft

Participation:

Dawson Kibbe

Johnathon Henry

Aiden Craig

Charlie Anderson

Nate Bentley

Frank Martin

Merrick Wieland