Young cross country team looks for more runners

After graduating a big class of senior girls last season, the Creston girls cross country team returned only one girl this year.

“I knew it would be a struggle,” Coach Maggie Arnold said. “I was starting to sweat that we wouldn’t have five.”

Though a varsity team consists of seven runners, only five are needed to score. The team was able to pull together four more girls to make them a competitive team.

The season begins Monday at 8 a.m. in Shenandoah. The team has several meets nearby this season including a home meet on Sept. 19 and meets at Clarke and Winterset.

“Payton Davis is our returner,” Arnold said. “She was coming on strong at the end of last year and had a really strong end of the track season. We’re expecting her to lead the way for the girls with her leadership and talent.”

Joining the team this year are junior Karter Clayton, sophomore Abby Freeman and freshmen Reese Strunk and Gretchen Hoepker.

Clayton and Freeman both came over after the track and field season. “Karter Clayton has never done cross country. She’s a hurdler on track team, looking to stay in shape for hurdles and sprints,” Arnold said. “Abby Freeman, this is her first year out for cross country. She’s a hard worker and good teammate.”

Hoepker will be running her first 5K as the season starts. Strunk was all-conference in junior high.

Arnold said she has big goals for Davis, a junior. “I expect her to place well at H10 and the qualifying meet at the end of the season,” she said. “I want her vying for a medal everywhere we go.”

Boys

The boys team has the only two seniors in cross country this season in Christian Ahrens and Anthony Eblen.

“This is Christian’s third season out. He’s made huge improvements this year, and he’s an excellent leader,” Arnold said. “Anthony has been running number one for us in practices. We’ll use him to carry us to medals.”

Though last year’s tenth-place finish in the Hawkeye 10 was disappointing, Arnold said it was a learning experience for the team.

“Last year was a way for them to gain experience,” she said. “They all had varsity experience last year. With guys, they get better as they mature and get stronger.”

There are eight boys on the team with a possibility of adding a ninth.

With each course being so different, Arnold said they take improvements meet by meet. “We’re looking to improve upon last year, to look and see the comparison of their times,” she said. “We want to get better next time — give them that experience and help them fall in love with the sport and come back year after year.”

They have only one new course this year in Maryville. “That will be a brand new course, we have no idea what to expect at all,” Arnold said. “When we go to Glenwood, we know the competition is unreal.”

Also on the team this season are: junior Gabe Hopkins, sophomores Allen Kendrick, Kylen Parsons, Hector Suazo and Jesh Villalpando and freshman Wyatt Goodenberger.

“Since we have such a small team, the meets will be with other schools closer to our size,” Arnold said. “We’re looking forward to the season and seeing how they do each meet.”

The Hawkeye 10 conference meet will be Oct. 12 in Carroll.

“We’re still looking for more runners,” Arnold said. “What kids don’t understand is it’s a sport for everyone.”