If there wasn’t enough excitement proceeding the 2017 cross country season for Panorama high school, the preseason rankings just added even more.

Recently the Iowa High School Track Coaches Association released their preseason cross country rankings for the 2017 season which ranks the top 15 teams in the state for both girls and boys. Inside the class 1A rankings both Panorama girls and boys squads now find themselves repeat offenders of the top 15 with the Lady Panthers coming in 10th and the boys entering the season ranked 13th.

On the girls side the ranking is well deserved as the reigning four year conference champion Lady Panthers come off a 5th consecutive state meet appearance and retain all of their state meet runners from last year. Head coach Greg Thompson has 19 runners currently on the Lady Panther roster including front runners in senior Devyn Kemble and freshmen Ella Waddle who was last years’ 8th grade state runner up. Out of the 19 runners on the roster, at least 8 have state meet experience.

The Panorama boys have also earned their spot among the top 15 after obtaining their second state meet appearance in school history last year. Coach Thompson returns four state meet runners from last years squad including including seniors Danny Nordquist and Josh Carstens, both of whom were individual state qualifiers. The Panther boys have a total of 14 runners on the roster.

Head coach Greg Thompson is back for his 18th season and he is assisted by Lindsey Duncan in her second year with the program along with second year volunteer coach Sandy Leiferman. Both Panther squads begin their respective seasons on August 24th.