It was not the ultimate result the Knoxville Girls Cross COuntry Squad wanted but they made significant progress through the season running a rather young group this fall. The Panther pack was led usually by either Natalie Collins and Janae Baker, both juniors. The girls also had to adjust a bit this season as Coach Mikayla Splavec had to step away from coaching duties to give birth to the Splavec’s first baby just before the Knoxville Invitational in September. Boys Coach Michael Splavec tells KNIA/KRLS Sports everyone on the team was able to cut into their times by the end of the season.

Splavec: “Janea Baker and Natalie Collins did a great job of leading in front of the pack. Everyone did a great job of getting their times down, and when Coach Bacon stepped in he was saying the same things as Coach Mikayla was saying so it was a seamless thing through the season.”

Doug Bacon stepped in for Mikayla Splavec when she went on maternity leave. The Panthers will return nearly the entire team with the exception of seniors Hanna Linsley, who ran mostly JV this season and Norah Pearson, who was unable to run due to recovering from an injury suffered during the spring.