ANKENY — The Panorama Middle School cross country teams competed Saturday in the 22nd annual Dick Washburn Junior High State Championships, with the Panther girls winning the Class 1A competition.
The Washburn event scores the first four runners from each team; most events score the first five. In the 1A girls race, Panorama scored 15 points on a brilliant 1-2-5-7 effort. Eagle Grove was second at 41 and Starmont third at 44, with Pekin (71) fourth, Earlham (74) fifth and Central Elkader (86) sixth.
“These kids ran very well and every one set a new personal-best time,” Panorama head coach Greg Thompson said. “We ran all the seventh graders with the eighth graders. I think this was an outstanding effort by both the boys and girls.”
Ella Waddle and Angel Poldberg were 1-2 in 12 minutes, 18 seconds and 13:05, respectively, with Gwen Steffen fifth in 14:05 and Lace Rishel seventh in 14:11. Olivia Steffen (10th, 14:45) and Grace Webner (14th, 14:51) also ran for the Panther girls team.
Abby Cobb (15:39), Abbi Holloway (16:57), Kinsey Muyskens (17:31), Gracie Phillips (17:47) and Rachel Marwedel (17:57) were also in action for Panorama.
West Central Valley (39) and AC/GC (71) claimed the top two boys team spots in 1A, with Panorama 12th on 190 points.
Paul Hansen (42nd, 15;04), Kevin Cogil (48th, 15:40), Alec Mills (49th, 15:51) and Avery Norman (51st, 16:26) ran for the Panther boys.
