While their season has yet to start, the Knoxville Cross Country Squads are hard at work getting ready for what the Panthers hope is a banner season. One glaring void at least to start the season for the second straight year is Norah Pearson, who is preseason ranked #9 in the Iowa Track Coaches Association class 3A girls individual poll. The two-time state qualifier injured her knee during the basketball season last winter and is still rehabbing. That said the girls squad is carrying on as is the boys and while the girls lead runner is out for the time being, girls runner Natalie Collins along with boys runner and 2020 State Qualifier Seth Walraven have lofty goals for their respective squads.

Seth: “It’s a big motivation, and last year at state I did decent, and it’ll be tough to get back there, but I’m up to the challenge.”

Natalie: “Mostly just trying to get to state and helping people train more.”

The Panthers Early Bird Meet was called off on Monday due to excessive heat. Knoxville is scheduled to head to Eddyville for another meet today, weather pending. Hear a full interview with Collins and Walraven on kniakrls.com in Today’s Local Sports as part of the Radio Sports Page that airs Wednesday at 6:00 and Thursday at 10:00 on KNIA/KRLS.