Saturday marks the fifth straight season the Panorama Panthers girls cross country team will vie for a state championship trophy. This weekend will be the first time Panorama will compete for a Class 2A state championship after their previous trips were as a Class 1A school. The Panthers return a majority of their runners from last year’s second-place finish in the Class 1A State Race, the best finish in program history. The Raccoon Valley Radio Network spoke with second-year runners Ella Waddle, Gwen Steffen, and Olivia Steffen about their experience at Fort Dodge’s Lakeside Municipal Golf Course. They do believe running there for a second straight year has its benefits.

“Oliva (Steffen), Ella (Waddle), and I ran there last year,” Gwen Steffen said, “Getting to know the course and being able to run on it a second time we’ll be able to have an advantage of what’s out there.”

Waddle, who was a state medalist last season with a sixth-place finish, says the lack of hills at the state course pose a different challenge. “We know the course (and) we do have an advantage,” Waddle said, “The hills do come in handy, that’s where I get close to people.”

Panorama’s move up to Class 2A means the Panthers will get an earlier start time than in previous seasons. The Class 2A Girls State Cross Country race commences at 1 p.m. Saturday from the Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge. The Raccoon Valley Radio Network will provide live updates throughout the day on area runners competing in the 2018 Iowa State Cross Country Meet.