Panthers run against bigger schools at Iowa City Invitational

Pekin’s cross-country teams competed in Iowa City High’s Bud Williams Invitational last Thursday, September 29. The Panther girls went up against five ranked 4A and 3A teams and came away with a sixth-place finish with 160 points. Winning the girls’ event was Dubuque Senior with 33, Ankeny Centennial was second with 47, Iowa City High took third with 97, Prairie Cedar Rapids was fourth with 118, and Clear Creek Amana finished fifth with 121. Rounding out the team standings were Ottumwa, seventh with 190 and Cedar Rapids Jefferson, eighth with 251.

Chloe Glosser was the top runner for the Pekin girls’ team, finishing 12th in 19:27.42. Lauren Steigleder was the next Panther to cross the line, finishing 28th in 20:29.65. Brooke Miller finished 42nd in 21:27.64, while Audrey Fariss was 48th in 22:18.09. Lexi Swearingen finished 65th in 23:56.21, Brooke Sylvester was 70th in 24:48.56, Renae Eubanks finished 21st in 24:48.58, and Teagan Swearingen was 76th in 26:25.29.

In the boys’ race, Brady McWhirter was the top finisher for Pekin, taking 18th in 16:43.28. Cole Millikin finished 86th in 19:43.29, Ben Guise was 90th in 20:10.13, and Dylan Sobaski finished 99th in 22:19.92.

Pekin’s high school and middle school cross-country teams will travel to Winfield’s Twin Lakes Country Club on Thursday, Oct. 6, to compete in the conference meet.