PANORA — The continued success of the Panorama girls cross country team has earned plaudits for the Panther head coach, as Greg Thompson was recently named the Class 1A Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Thompson helped guide the Panthers to a second-place effort at the state meet Oct. 28, the 10th appearance in the past 12 seasons for Panorama. The team was third in 2009.
Since arriving in Panora in 1999 Thompson — who also coaches the boys cross country team as well as both track squads — has earned WCAC Coach of the Year honors seven times. During his tenure 74 school records have been set by the team and by individual harriers. Thompson has been named an At-Large Coach of the Year for girls cross country on five occasions.
He has led the Panther girls to nine WCAC championships and nine runner-up finishes in his 19 seasons, with the team reigning as State Qualifying Meet titleists five times, including this season.
Thompson was assisted this season by Lindsey Duncan and Sandy Leiferman, with Caden Duncan serving as strength and conditioning coach.
