Area cross country squads ran at Pine Knolls Country Club at the annual Panther Invitational on Tuesday. The Knoxville girls were 4th while Twin Cedars and Melcher-Dallas did not have enough runners to score. On the boys side, Knoxville was 6th while Indianola’s J-V took 7th. Individually for the Panther girls Halle Baker outran sister Janae to the finish line to score a 27th place finish while Janae was 28th. Isaac Rankin finished 5th to lead the Panther boys in a time of 17:13. Indianola’s JV was led over the line by Gavin Reed in 24th with a time of 18:53. Knoxville Runners Natalie Collins and Ethan Russell told KNIA/KRLS Sports the toughest part of the course is the final hill just before the finish line.
Ethan “Some say the first hill is the toughest, but I think the hill around pavement is the toughest.
Natalie “Like Ethan said, I think the last hill is the toughest because you just have to get through it mentally and just push.”
For Melcher-Dallas, Hailey Stegman ran 15th in a time of 24:06 while Trista Hansaker was 46th in a time of 28:07. For the Saints boys, Austin Remster had a time of 27:02. The Panthers and Indians will head to Waverly to participate in the Wartburg College High School Meet this Saturday.