Putting the puzzle together for Creston boys track

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

Creston boys track co-coaches Steve Birchard and Pat Schlapia will be getting a little creative this season. With just 16 athletes out for the spring track season, the amount of success will be determined by how diversified the team can be. “It’ll be like putting a puzzle together,” said Schlapia. “We’re just not sure what the puzzle is going to look like. We have a lot of pieces to the puzzle, but we haven’t got the puzzle put together yet.” The Panthers lost seven seniors from last year’s team, including three who ran at the state coed track meet. Maclaine Sorden ran in the open 400, Scott Vicker competed in the 3,200 and 1,600 while seniors Sorden, Vicker and Marc Coenen, along with then-sophomore Tyler Coenen were on the distance medley relay that qualified to the blue oval. Vicker also ran the 1,600 and 3,200 at the Drake Relays last year. But this year brings another large senior class with a total of seven — Matt Lanning, Jake McGehee, Keith Smith, Bryant McCabe, Tyler Harris, Adam Riley and Luke Schroder. “We expected a lot out of our seniors last year and they produced,” said Schlapia. “That’s one thing we expect again this season. With the numbers being lower, it’s their turn to step it up.” Depth in distance Fourteen of Creston’s 16 track participants will compete for spots in the middle distance and distance races, led by Lanning, a state cross country participant this past fall. “Matt’s specialty will be the 1,600. We might go higher than that, but also all the way down to a 400,” said Schlapia. “With his success in being a state qualifier in cross country, that boosted his confidence. He’s coming in very determined, along with Keith Smith. His specialty will be the 800, but he can go higher or lower as well and has been working with hurdles.” Harris, Ryan Helm and Matt Reeves have been tabbed for distance running as well while nine other runners will compete for spots in the middle distance races — Tyler Coenen, Luke Eblen, Jordan Leach, McGehee, McCabe, Brian Meyer, Andrew Schafer, Schroder and Jeremy Weese. Coenen is the lone athlete on the roster who competed at the state coed track meet last year, with the distance medley relay, and will also be one of seven competing for time in the sprints. McCabe, Eblen, Leach, Meyer, Schaefer, Schroder and Weese will also look to fill in spots as well. One area that seems to be pretty well solidified is the hurdles, with five different people competing for the shuttle hurdle relay and also the individual races — Coenen, McCabe, McGehee, Schroder and Smith. McCabe and McGehee were part of the shuttle hurdle relay team last year. On the field Going into the field events, Riley will lead the Panthers in the discus and shot put. “Adam’s been out for four years and he’s the kind of kid that works hard,” said Birchard. “Whatever you ask of him, he does it. He’s shown improvement in the discus and shot put each year. We expect him to make that next step and possibly, that might make him a contender in the Hawkeye 10, districts and making state.” Ryan Maitlen will be throwing shot put and discus for Creston while Harris will see time at the shot put. In the high jump and long jump, Coenen, McGehee and Schroder will be competing for those spots. But all of these events are subject to change considering the fact that outdoor practices have been limited due to the weather. “We’re all in the same boat with all the spring sports,” said Schlapia. “The first few meets will tell us quite a bit. Right now, we’re looking at individual events and then we’ll look to put some strong relays together. This is probably the most question marks we’ve had going into a season.” A lot will be found out at Tuesday’s season-opening meet in Glenwood, followed by Friday’s meet at Winterset. Going ahead from that, the Hawkeye 10 Conference Meet will be at Carroll Kuemper on May 5, where the Panthers placed fifth last year in the conference. “Harlan and Atlantic in past years have been very strong,” said Schlapia. “We want to compete the best we can — no matter what event we’re in.” That will be followed by the May 9 district meet at Atlantic and the state coed track meet from May 15-17. “As I think about districts, it’s hard to say anyone is going to be penciled in to make state,” said Birchard. “We don’t have a Scott Vicker this year — we have a bunch of kids that will have to improve throughout the year to have a chance at making state.” Creston Boys Track Glance (* — Letterwinner) Roster Seniors — *Matt Lanning, *Jake McGehee, *Keith Smith, *Bryant McCabe, *Tyler Harris, *Adam Riley, Luke Schroder. Juniors — None. Sophomores — Ryan Maitlen, *Tyler Coenen, *Ryan Helm, Brian Meyer, Matt Reeves. Freshmen — Andrew Schaefer, Jeremy Weese, Jordan Leach, Luke Eblen. Schedule March 25 — at Glenwood, 5 p.m. March 28 — at Winterset, 4:45 p.m. April 1 — at Glenwood, 5 p.m. April 4 — at Clarinda, 4:30 p.m. April 8 — at Chariton, 5 p.m. April 11 — Panther Relays, 5 p.m. April 15 — at Ballard, 5 p.m. April 22 — at Carlisle, 5 p.m. April 25-26 — at Drake Relays in Des Moines May 1 — at Red Oak, 5 p.m. May 5 — at Hawkeye 10 Meet hosted by Carroll Kuemper, 4:30 p.m. May 9 — at Class 3A District Meet at Atlantic, 4 p.m. May 15-17 — at State Coed Meet in Des Moines —————— Ben Frotscher can be reached at 782-2141, ext. 246 or bfrotscher@crestonnews.com