With the State Qualifying race as the next event for Knoxville Cross Country, the Panthers know it will be a difficult meet in Pella on Wednesday. Four ranked teams will be in the field for the girls and three ranked squads for the boys, not to mention several individuals ranked in the top 30 as well. Knoxville is looking for individual glory and freshman Runner Isaac Rankin, coming off a South Central Conference individual title looks to finish in the top 15 at the State Qualifier to get to Fort Dodge, and girls runner Natalie Collins who earned all-South Central Conference on Tuesday with an 8th place finish tell KNIA/KRLS Sports it is all about preparation and running their best race of the season to have a shot.

Isaac: “Got to train hard this week, and then when I’m there run my race and run hard and that’s what I need to do.”

Natalie: “We’re just going to try to work together as a team and work hard to do the best we can and that’s really all we can do.”

The top 15 individuals and the top three teams will qualify for the State Meet in Fort Dodge. Find an interview with Rankin and Collins on kniakrls.com that aired during the Radio Sports Page this week Wednesday at 6:00 and Thursday at 10:00 on KNIA/KRLS.