Before knowing his teams were classified as 2A programs this fall, Panorama head cross country coach Greg Thompson made few tweaks to the Panther’s competition schedule. The Raccoon Valley Radio Network spoke with Thompson at the end of the July about several topics ahead of their first preseason practice last Monday. Thompson says a change in one Guthrie County Schools meet opened the door for the Panthers to compete in other area races. “AC/GC’s (meet) was our opening week and (now) they actually changed their meet to a later (date),” Thompson said, “We’re (now opening the season) at Gilbert, and they run at the Iowa State Cross Country Course.” It’s a two-class meet; We’ll be in the small class but it really good competition there.”

Thompson added the squads used to run in the Gilbert Invitational annually but made the change once AC/GC started hosting their meet during the same week. The Panthers are replacing the Audubon Meet with a trip to Prairie City Monroe in September for a chance to run against different competition. The Panthers open the 2018 competition season at the Gilbert Cross Country Invitational on Thursday, August 23.