It is State Qualifying Meet Day for Cross Country Squads around the state and Knoxville hopes to get its share of black and gold at Fort Dodge next week. On the boys side, Isaac Rankin is going for his 4th straight State Meet where he was all-state last season. The Panthers head to Pella to run at Central College’s course. Rankin, who is ranked 13th in the latest class 3A poll from the Iowa Track Coaches Association. Coach Michael Splavec tells KNIA/KRLS Sports Rankin is heavily favored to make a return to state, but he wants to bring along some teammates.

Splavec: “I think that’s been his biggest thing and I’ve told him you’ve got to bring them along during the season and he’s done that this year, and maybe get some more Panther black and gold at State.”

The two most likely to follow Rankin closely are the two that have done it all season in Bradley Hembrook and Connor Schultz. Of the teams running in Pella only three runners were ahead of Rankin. Pella’s Canaan Dunham, who is ranked 3rd and Mason Gaulke, who is ranked 8th and Clear Creek-Amana’s Carson Meskimen. For the girls, while the Panthers are not favored to get any runner to state, Splavec adds they can lay a foundation for the future knowing how young the team is this year. First races are set to begin at 4:00.