Panthers, Bears gear up for distance running

PACKWOOD - When the Iowa Association of Track and Field Coaches released its preseason rankings for cross-country, there were some familiar teams ranked highly that finished well at state last year.

Mid-Prairie was ranked No. 1 in girls Class 2A, but Pekin's girls were ranked No. 4 in Class 1A after placing ninth at the state meet last season.

Mid-Prairie's boys were ranked 14th in Class 2A, but Danville-New London at No. 2 had only Davis County ranked ahead of them in Class 2A.

Pekin's boys team is ranked ninth, one spot ahead of where they finished at the state meet last year. D-NL placed sixth at state.

D-NL returns all seven of its runners. Finishing at 14th at state was sophomore Ty Carr, now a junior. Other juniors this season are Alexander Julian, who was 17th, and Seth Bailey, who was 65th. Seniors are Oliver Sowell, who was 32nd, Gabriel Gourley, who was 55th and Mason Chipman, who was 83rd Rylan Martin was just a freshman when he took 105th place.

Pekin loses ninth-place finisher Colten Glosser, 58th finisher Tanner Conger and 102 Devin Fraise. Fourth-place finisher Brady Millikin returns for his senior year. Placing at 70 was now junior Zack Wise, 86 was now senior Simeon Buie and 98 now sophomore Gavin Brown.

All seven Pekin girls state participants were either freshmen or sophomores. Returning this year now are junior Lily Fariss (finished at No. 16), Lauren Derscheid (21), Sarah Eubanks (54), Mia Clark (58), Emily Laumeyer (73), and sophomores Sabrina Reneker (62), Lilly Reneker (83).

For two strong boys teams and a girls to be in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference, it gives other coaches something to test themselves against. A coach in the SEISC, Steve Riley of Columbus is impressed with all three of those teams, but wants to challenge his Wildcats.

'Danville-New London boys are a clear favorite (in the conference) and one of the state favorites,” Riley said. 'Pekin is ranked, but I think we are the third best boys team in our conference. Pekin is easily the best girls team in our conference and Danville-New London girls are next.”

Danville-New London's Addison Parrott, who is a senior this year, ran at state last season as an individual and placed sixth.

Pekin's coach, Davis Eidahl, has said that this year could be one of Pekin's better boys teams they have had in the last few years. That is allowing for the fact that Pekin will have just eight boys running varsity this fall.

'Do not let this fool you,” Eidahl said. 'This year's freshman class is one of the best in many years. '

The Panthers will be led by and built around Millikin, who is a three-time state qualifier and a two-time all-state performer (placing in the top 15 at the state meet).

'This year Brady will be one of the favorites to win a state title,” Eidahl said. 'His guidance will help in making Pekin one of the better Class 1A teams in the state.”

Beside the seven girl Panthers that ran in the state meet last year, Pekin will have an additional nine girls.

'During the summer, the girls put in some good workouts and made much improvement,” Eidahl said. 'Last week at camp, the girls showed that they are ready to be a state contender this year.”

With top alternate Zoey Johnson, Eidahl looks to add in two freshman, Lauren Steigleder and Audrey Fariss, who placed second and third in the State

Junior High Washburn Classic.

The lone senior for Pekin is Kaitlyn Glosser, who ran in the state meet her sophomore year. She will be looked upon to be one of the leaders.