Completed Event: Track and Field at Bryan Clay Invite on April 16, 2026 ,
Final
Track and Field
Bryan Clay Invite
Iowa State University Athletics
Xavier Alums Seeing Success as Cyclones
05.27.2010 | Track and Field
(L to R) Bryce Colston, So.; Pat Lewis, Fr.; Meaghan Nelson, So.; Erin Penticoff, Sr.
AMES, Iowa - While the Cedar Rapids Xavier track and field program has a short history, the school's accomplishments have greatly exceeded its brief legacy. Four Xavier alums will compete for Iowa State this weekend in the 2010 NCAA West Track and Field Regional in Austin, Texas. Sophomore Meaghan Nelson, who will be competing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, sees similarities between Xavier and Iowa State.
"It was a really easy transition coming to Iowa State," Nelson said. "Both school's teams are really close and very supportive. I'm really excited to see all of us going to (the NCAA West Regional), representing both Iowa State and our former high school."
Nelson's first-place effort at the 2006 3A State Cross Country Championship led the Saints to their second girl's cross country championship. As a sophomore, the Xavier alum took second at the 2005 3A state meet, leading the Xavier women to a runner-up finish. Nelson was only a freshman when ISU senior Erin Penticoff was in her final year at Cedar Rapids Xavier, and when Nelson decided to visit Iowa State for the first time, Penticoff was there with open arms.
"It was really nice having (Penticoff) around," Nelson said. "I knew her from high school, and when I got (to Iowa State), it was easier having someone to talk to and someone that I could relate to. Especially during team camp right away, (Penticoff) made me feel comfortable having her around."
Penticoff led the Saints to their first 3A State Cross Country Championship in 2003, and finished fifth individually. Penticoff was also a member of the first Xavier women's cross country team to go to the state meet.
"Throughout the four years our team steadily improved in both track and cross country," Penticoff said. "There was a really tight knit group of girls, but it was really cool to start a tradition there and then bring it on to Iowa State."
Iowa State sophomore Bryce Colston and freshman Pat Lewis, both members of the ISU all-Iowa men's 4x100-meter relay team that will be competing this weekend, also prepped at Xavier. Colston tore up the track as a Saint, earning first-place finishes in the 200-meter dash and runner-up finishes in the 100-meter dash at the 2007 and 2008 3A Iowa State Track and Field Meet. Colston was also the anchor leg for the 4x100 and 4x200 championship relay teams that earned state titles in 2007 and 2008, setting 3A state-records in both the 4x100 (42.18) and 4x200-meter (1:29.08) relay races in 2008.
"I think my greatest memory from Xavier is setting the state-record in the 4x100 and 4x200-meter relays my senior year," Colston said. "The (4x100-meter relay) has always been my favorite race, so it was cool to be able to experience that. My senior year we won the state title and set a record for most points scored (100.50) at state meet by a boy's school. I think that was really cool too, because we kind of ran away with it my senior year."
Colston feels what he learned at Xavier has helped him immensely at the NCAA Division I track and field level.
"I think the biggest thing that I brought to Iowa State from Xavier is my work ethic," Colston said. "Almost all coaches in every sport preach to athletes that you may not be the most talented team out there, but (the team's) going to work the hardest. That is what I have always prided myself on. Coming into the Big 12, I know I'm not one of the fastest guys in the nation, so I have to make up for that with how hard I work."
Lewis was a junior before he went out for track, and while his first season was tough, he, like Colston, excelled during his senior season. In 2009, Cedar Rapids Xavier jumped from 3A to 4A. Lewis welcomed the challenge, and won the 4A 100-meter dash (10.62) and the 200-meter dash (21.43). Lewis was also the 2009 Drake Relays champion in the 100-meter dash. Lewis was also a member of the 3A 4x400-meter relay team that finished runner-up at the 2008 state meet.
Colston sees a lot of himself in Lewis, and was very impressed with Lewis's rapid maturation as a sprinter in practice and in competition.
"During (Pat's) junior year he was toward the back of a lot of work outs," Colston said. "All of a sudden toward the end of his junior year he started coming up during the work-outs and really showing improvement. The next thing you know his senior year he was a state champion."
While all four Xavier alums took different paths to become the runners they are today, they find pride in representing both their high school and college. When these athletes don the cardinal and gold this weekend, they will remember their roots, and remember what got them here today.
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