While the Panorama Panthers cross country season is over for both the boys and the girls team there will be a focus on getting more involvement in the sport in the future.

Panthers boys and girls cross country coach Greg Thompson says there were only four high school girls and two high school boys that finished out the season for the Panthers. The low numbers this season led to the Panthers not being able to score points at meets throughout the season. Thompson explains what next year might look like in terms of numbers.

“The only returning runner we are probably going to have on the high school side is currently a sophomore, Avery Bahrenfuss, she will return as a junior for us and we look to have three freshman girls out for cross country next year. So, again our numbers right now projected to be pretty small but I think the quality is going to be very high.”

Thompson tells Raccoon Valley Radio the junior high cross country runners performed well this season and the coaching staff is excited about the potential runners coming up through the junior high ranks that could be competing soon at the high school cross country level.

“They look to be the foundation for the coming years.”

The cross country season for the Panorama Panthers ended earlier this year after the state qualifying meet after no Panthers runners qualified to run at the state meet in Fort Dodge.