Recently ia.milesplit.com released its top 50 track and field performances of the decade and Knoxville was found in ten of those rankings. Former Panthers Coach Mike Cunningham the Second, who is now an assistant coach with the West Des Moines Valley boys program, was coach for many of the events that are listed on the top 50. Cunningham tells KRLS Sports that era of Knoxville Track and Field was special because of the buy-in that he had from the guys as they knew to put in the work and get their reward at state.

Cunningham:
“And understanding if you put the time and effort in, you were going to have a chance for a medal and maybe a trophy at the end and you were going for a state championship, and the kids worked so hard, and I remember hard working practices as much as I do the meets.”

The highest ranking event for Knoxville is the 2011 four-by-800 meter relay team of Jamie Vanderveer, Blake Wyatt, Tim Shepherd, and Alex Edwards who ran 7:57.23 at the Drake Relays to finish in third place overall. There are three state championship performances on the list and a Drake Relays championship. See a list of Knoxville performers and where this ranked in the top 50 with this story at kniakrls.com by clicking Today’s Local Sports.

Knoxville events that made the top 50 at ia.milesplit.com
22nd 2011 4×800 team of Jamie Vanderveer, Blake Wyatt, Tim Shepherd, and Alex Edwards ran 7:57.23 at Drake Relays to finish 3rd.

25th 2014 100m Tanner Dunkin ran :10.77 FAT at Clarke. He won the state championship in the 100 in 2014 and 2015.

26th 2015 shot put Nathan Winters threw 58 feet 1 1/4 inches to win the state championship.

29th 2013 4×400 team of Colton Spaur, Ryan Douglas, Jacob Moats, and Tanner Dunkin with a time of 3:21.68 won the state championship.

33rd 2013 1600m Wick Cunningham with a 4:19.59 at Drake Relays for 5th place.

36th 2012 Discus Derek Seddon throws 175 feet 1 inch to finish 3rd at stat meet. Was the Drake Relays Champion that same year.

41st 2013 1600 Medley team of Colton Spaur, Ryan Douglas, Tanner Dunkin, and Wick Cunningham with a time of 3:32.66 at the state meet for 3rd place.

42nd 2015 200m Tanner Dunkin ran :22.00 in the prelims at state. Placed 7th in the final due to an injury.

43rd 2015 Discus Nathan Winters threw 173 feet 5 inches to become state champion.

47th 2013 400 hurdles Ryan Douglas placed 4th at state in a time of :54.03