Knoxville will be represented at the class 3A State Cross Country Meet as freshman Isaac Rankin set a personal record of 16:50 at the Pella Sports Park finishing 11th and qualifying for his first State Meet on Wednesday. Rankin managed to overcome a tight start and ran in the top 20 for most of the first half of the race and made his move at the 3/4 mark. Rankin told KNIA/KRLS Sports he is excited to go to the State Meet and hopes to finish well.

Rankin: “It’s a real tight start over there and the first ½ mile I was in 18th or 19th and I just made my move. I’m really pumped to go there and it’s a real honor.”

Other finishers were Ezra Schmidt in 57 with a time of 18:42, Reid Sinclair in 77th with a time of 19:48, Ethan Russell in 65th in a time of 19:07, Kaden McGill was 79th in a time of 19:56, Hunter Gray in 81st in a time of 20:15, and Anthony Bailey in 83rd in a time of 21:28. As a team the Panthers finished in 11th. For the girls Natalie Collins led Knoxville over the line in 50th with a time of 22:49. Other finishers were Janae Baker 58th in a time of 23:10, Nicole Schultz in 67th in a time of 24:33, Ciara Heffron in 80th with a time of 26:01, and Janie Maasdam in 81st with a time of 26:04. Rankin will compete at the State Cross Country Meet in Fort Dodge next Saturday.