Running in 90 degree temperatures, Knoxville hosted its annual Early Bird Cross Country Invitational on Monday to start the fall sports season. The Panther girls, who were minus Norah Pearson as she was out with a quad injury, were led by Taylor Jones with an 11th place finish in a time of 25:43. Knoxville finished in third place in the team standings with 73 behind Pekin and Fairfield. Pleasantville was fourth with 99 points led by Hailee McCormick’s ninth place finish in a time of 25:27. The Knoxville boys also finished third in a close race for first as the Panthers were three points out of first with Pekin claiming the top spot scoring 42 points, with Fairfield in second with 43 points and Knoxville scoring 45 points. Seth Walraven led the Panther boys with a third place finish in a time of 18:55. Devon Luing led Pleasantville across in fourth place with a time of 19:34. Pleasantville had an incomplete team and did not score. Knoxville will run at Albia next Monday while Pleasantville heads to Wayne on September third.