PANORA — Panorama girls track head coach Greg Thompson has a problem many of his peers would love to claim — how to insure each of his talented thinclads has enough room in a skilled lineup to maximize their potential.
The Panthers sent 10 events — six individual and four relays — to the 2017 state meet, but those responsible for the 16 scored points return. The qualifiers ran the gamut of skills, with three field and three track events splitting the sextet of individual entries.
Panorama has started their own boys and girls soccer teams this spring, and a few athletes did chose the pitch over the track, and while their absence will be felt, none were among the state qualifiers.
“We scored points in all 19 events at last year’s conference (WCAC) and state qualifying meets, including double scores in most of the individual events,” Thompson stated. “That type of depth is a blessing, but it is also a concern in trying to make sure everyone is getting enough opportunities to compete and improve.”Devyn Kemble (4th in the 400, 10th in the 800), Morgan Johnk (4th in 100 hurdles, 5th in high jump), Bailey Beckman (12th in long jump) and Lydia Knapp (7th in discus) will be seeking return trips to blue oval at Drake Stadium.
The sprint medley and shuttle hurdle quartets both placed ninth, with Beckman, Kemble, Carson Fisher and Kassidy Bremer running on the former, with Johnk, Maggie Woodvine, Maddie Knapp and Payton Douglass running the latter. Brooklyn Behrends, Lydia Lindstrom and Brianna Hoffman also saw relay duties, as the 4×400 placed 15th and the 4×800 22nd.
A talented freshman class will add to the team depth. They are expected to make an impact in the middle and distance events, as three of the top four cross country runners from the state runner-up team join the thinclads, with Ella Waddle (who will split time with soccer) and sisters Gwen and Olivia Steffen providing Thompson plenty of flexibility at 800 meters and beyond.
Shey Storesund will be expected to provide depth to the hurdle group as well as in the longer sprints, with Cassidy Hoehne and Claire Woodworth adding depth in the throwing events.
Thompson said he expected Earlham, Madrid and AC/GC to challenge for the WCAC title, which Panorama has won 14 times since Thompson arrived in 1998, including league crowns in 2015 and 2017. During his tenure the Panthers have won six state qualifying meet titles, including the last four. He is assisted by Chris Webner (field events), Caden Duncan (sprints and strength/conditioning) and Lindsey Duncan (middle distance/distance and strength/conditioning).
Panorama opens competition Monday at the Earlham Early Bird before visiting Perry for the Davis Family Relays March 29. They will then host the Kip Janvrin Invitational April 3. All three meets will start at 4:30 p.m.
Brianna Hoffman was also on that 4×800 and 4×400 that ran last year at State too.
She mostly certainly did, and I snapped photos of her doing so. Doing so obviously did not save me from a silly oversight. The story is corrected, my apologies to Miss Hoffman.