The Pekin Panthers cross country teams traveled to Ottumwa on Saturday, September 20th for the prestigious “Lighted Links” meet, facing strong competition from across the state. Both teams delivered solid performances against highly-ranked opponents in challenging conditions.
Boys Team Places Fourth in Competitive Field
The Pekin boys cross country team finished fourth overall in a field dominated by highly-ranked programs. The Panthers were led by strong individual performances from their top three runners, who all finished in the top 11 positions.
Lane Fariss paced the Panthers with an impressive fifth-place finish, continuing his strong junior season. Cole Millikin followed closely behind with a ninth-place showing, while Mason Dahlstrom rounded out Pekin’s top three with an 11th-place performance. The trio’s clustering near the front of the race kept the Panthers competitive against the state’s elite programs.
The team’s depth was tested as their fourth and fifth runners faced tougher competition. Landon Fariss finished 44th, followed by Brody Sobaski in 47th place. Jaxon Mefford crossed the line in 55th position, with Clayton Harvey completing the Pekin scoring in 65th place.
The meet was won by third-ranked Chariton from 2A, demonstrating the quality of competition Pekin faced. Van Buren County, ranked 11th in 1A, claimed second place, followed by Clear Lake in third. Pekin’s fourth-place finish as the 15th-ranked team in 1A represented a solid showing against higher-classified competition.
Girls Team Faces Stiff Competition
The Pekin girls cross country team encountered one of the most challenging fields of their season, finishing seventh overall.
Senior Chloe Glosser delivered another outstanding individual performance, finishing second overall in what marked the first time this season she did not claim first place. Glosser was edged by McKenna Montgomery of 10th-ranked Albia from 2A, ending her perfect streak of victories to start the season. According to Bound, Montgomery is the fifth-ranked runner in 2A, compared to Glosser’s top ranking in 1A. Despite the runner-up finish, Glosser’s performance against such elite competition demonstrated her continued development as one of the state’s top distance runners.
The remainder of Pekin’s lineup faced significant challenges against the deep field. Abby Guise was the team’s second finisher, crossing the line in 26th place. The Panthers’ remaining scoring runners were tightly grouped, with Maddy Petrehn finishing 39th, Harper Guise in 40th, and Callie Deutschle in 41st. Hailey Pedrick and Zoe Heisdorffer completed Pekin’s contingent, finishing 51st and 52nd respectively.
The girls team standings reflected the quality of competition, with Iowa City West capturing the team title. Van Buren County, ranked 11th in 1A, finished second, followed by 10th-ranked 2A Albia in third place. Clear Lake claimed fourth, Ottumwa finished fifth, and Cherokee took sixth before Pekin’s seventh-place showing.
Looking Forward
Both Pekin teams will take valuable lessons from their experience at the Lighted Links meet. The boys team’s fourth-place finish against higher-ranked competition should provide confidence heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Lane Fariss’s individual success, combined with solid performances from Millikin and Dahlstrom, gives the team a strong foundation for postseason competition.
The girls team, while facing a tougher day competitively, gained important experience running against elite programs. Glosser’s continued excellence at the individual level, paired with the team’s tightly-grouped scoring runners, suggests potential for improvement as the season reaches its climax.
They will next be in action on Monday, September 22nd, in Solon.
