The Knoxville Cross Country Squad will hopefully start their season on Thursday in Albia. The Panthers have been training all summer and had a meet on Monday get canceled due to the extreme heat. Boys Coach Michael Splavec tells KNIA/KRLS Sports the runners that were putting in the miles during the summer are going to be the ones that will be leading the pack in preseason practice. However, he wants everyone to put in work no matter what the skill level.

Splavec: “The kids that showed up are going to be consistent and got through the runs, were the ones that were there this summer, and the ones that didn’t keep up weren’t there this summer. It’s kind of a catch 22. We know they have lives and other things they’re doing, so we just expect them to work hard when practice officially starts.”

The meet in Albia is set to begin at 5:30.