The Panorama Panthers girls track and field team recently headed to the Class 2A State qualifying meet and came away with multiple automatic qualifiers for the state track and field meet in Des Moines.

When the State Track and Field takes place May 19th-21st at Drake Stadium in Des Moines there will be multiple representatives from the Panorama Panthers girls track and field team. At their Class 2A State Qualifying meet in Treynor on Thursday four events were able to grab an automatic qualification by coming in either first or second in the event.

The Panthers girls track and field team was able to automatically qualify Jaidyn Sellers in the 100m and 200m dashes where she took first place at the state qualifying meet in both of those events. Jaidyn will be looking to repeat as a state champion in both of these events as she is the defending Class 2A State Champion in both the 100m and 200m dashes. Coach Greg Thompson says when it comes to the kind of athlete Jaidyn is she rises to the occasion when it comes to pressure.

“She’s the type of athlete that really steps up to the pressure and performs really well under pressure where some kind of cave a little bit. So, I really see good things and I see defending of the titles is a realistic possibility.”

Also, the girls 800 Sprint Medley team which was made up of Grace Webner, Payton Beckman, Jaidyn Sellers and Zoey Hambleton was able to qualify by taking first place and the same athletes also made up the Girls Distance Medley and they were able to automatically qualify is a second place finish at the state qualifying meet Thursday as well.

Thompson says there was some discussion as to what events the girls should try to qualify for state in but he feels they made the correct decision in the events they chose.

“I think it’s looking really good for us to medal in all four if we can step up and just perform really well. Part of the reason we chose those events to go after was just the way the state meet schedule is set up it sets up very nice.”

The Panthers girls track and field team will look to turn in solid performances once again this season when they head to the State Track and Field Meet next week as they will look to come away as State Champions.