PANORA — It takes little research or memory to understand why Panorama girls track head coach Greg Thompson is eagerly awaiting the start of the 2019 season.
Thompson has led the Panther girls to second (in 1A) and seventh (in 2A) at the last two state cross country meets, and last spring guided Panorama to a strong third-place showing at the 2018 2A state track meet.
The Panthers qualified in 15 of the 19 events held at state and are a legitimate threat to repeat, or come close to, similar results this season. A handful of key seniors have departed, but Panorama remains loaded, with an influx of young and improving talent making Thompson’s squad a threat to once again medal at Drake Stadium in May.
Senior Morgan Johnk won the state pentathlon last year, with classmate Lydia Knapp 11th. Both will be key fixtures again this season.
Johnk, who will compete in track for the University of Northern Iowa, was second in the 100 hurdles after placing fourth as a junior. She is also a multiple qualifier in the high jump and a serious medal threat over the bar as well.
The shuttle hurdle was second last year and returns anchor runner Johnk as well as Shey Storesund, with Maggie Woodvine having run one leg at state last year. Thompson will have plenty of talented choices to round out the squad, which will likely figure in the medals again this season.
Bailey Beckman and Kassidy Bremer both qualified in the long jump and will look to do so again, and both are lead choices in the sprints and on the shorter legs of relays.
Sophomore twins Gwen and Olivia Steffen will both fill key spots, with both already showing steady improvement in their young careers.
Fellow sophomore Ella Waddle was second in the state cross country meet as a freshman and fifth this season in 2A. She was the lone frosh running in the 2A 1500 at state last year and finished eighth. Waddle will run 800 and 1500 distances and most likely will see plenty of meets in which she runs the 3000 and could be a key part of 800 legs in relays as well.
Knapp spun the discus at state last year and will look to return while hoping to also reach Des Moines in the shot put. Claire Woodworth will also see shot put duties and will also likely toss the discus.
Thompson has set #MORE (Meet Opportunity, Rise Every time) as a motto for the season. If the early indoor meet results are any indication, the Panther girls have already bought in. While there are always strong and deep teams to contend with at the state meet, many of those who finished ahead of Panther entrants were seniors, opening the door for just the kind of opportunity Thompson hopes his team will seize upon.
Panorama opens their outdoor season Tuesday at the Earlham Earlybird before visiting Perry for the Davis Relays Thursday.
