By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
This fall marks the second season for the Panorama Schools cross country teams to practice and compete on new trails on Lake Panorama’s south shore. For many years, the cross country trail was on the west side of the lake. Some of it was in timber with some crossing portions of the Panorama West Golf Course.
Greg Thompson is the Panorama Community Schools head cross country coach for both boys and girls. He lists key reasons why school personnel wanted to move the cross country course to the south shore.
“The west trail was getting difficult to manage and maintain because it was very overgrown with wild timber,” Thompson says. “We were spending two or three Saturdays every season to trim the brush back enough to use the trail. Also, the west trail was becoming very rough to run on because of the wheeled vehicles that were using it.”
Thompson says the switch to the south shore trail allows easier access to modern amenities for athletes and spectators, such as bathrooms with plumbing and electricity, concessions and better parking.
The cross country trail uses some of the same sections as the Lake Panorama trail system, so blue fiberglass trail markers can be seen in some areas. The cross country trails begin and end on school property, with all bus and spectator parking and bathroom facilities on school property. For the middle school, a distance of two miles has been mapped. For the high school, the trail is 3.1 miles. Panorama personnel mow the trails and provide additional maintenance.
Thompson says the 2023 season went well.
“We learned quite a bit about needed changes to the meet organization and what parts of the course need some improvement,” he says. “The first meet of the year, we discovered the starting area of the race needed to be wider, we discovered where some bottlenecking happened on the course, and we discovered where some landscaping work was needed due to water erosion.”
Some of those issues were resolved by the time Panorama hosted the second meet last season. That knowledge also will lead to an improved 2024 Panorama Invitational, which will be Thursday, Sept. 19.
“This is the 50th Annual Panorama Invitational,” Thompson says. “We offer races for junior high and high school junior varsity and varsity for both boys and girls. This meet usually brings about 25 schools and 450 athletes to our trail.”
Thompson says last year he received many compliments on the course from both participants and spectators.
“The No. 1 thing we like about the south shore trail is the shoreline. The athletes from other teams found this course offers a very unique experience in getting to run on the lake shore for about a mile. Many runners appreciated having boats out on the lake and supporting them by honking their horns and ringing cowbells,” Thompson says.
A second positive is the trail is fairly flat, although there is one steep hill and the prairie has a few small hills.
“We found the course to be much faster than we anticipated,” Thompson says.
Spectators are encouraged to attend the Sept. 19 cross country invitational, and Thompson says there are several good viewing points.
“The shore line along the trail or in a boat on the water are very nice,” he says. “Another place is along the service road near the disc golf course, which is about the halfway point of the high school races.”
There also are good spots for spectators on school grounds.
“Anywhere near the starting line will have easy access and is an exciting part of the race with 100 to 150 runners starting at the same time,” Thompson says. “Other places are along the west side of the outdoor classroom and baseball field and in the home side bleachers to see race finishes.”
Thompson says such a large meet means there are volunteer opportunities.
“The school staff usually manages the starting area and the course itself, but we could use some help guiding teams and spectators upon arrival and helping guide runners at the finish line,” he says.
Those interested in being a volunteer can contact Bruce Dahlhauser, activities director, via email at bruce.dahlhauser@panorama.k12.ia.us, or Greg Thompson at greg.thompson@panorama.k12.ia.us, or call the school at 641-755-2317.
Thompson says the cooperation between Panorama Community Schools, Lake Panorama Association and Friends of Lake Panorama has been wonderful.
“This concept of sharing the trail and preparing the trail for competition running and casual hiking came together very quickly,” he says. “I have heard very positive feedback about amenities of the trails and the disc golf course. There still are some improvements to be made, but I know they are getting used and appreciated.”
In 2022, trail markers with directional signage, a trailhead sign and two benches were added to a portion of the former cross country trail. This summer, LPA maintenance staff worked to push back timber areas encroaching on the trail. Now called the Panorama West Nature Trail, parking is in a cul-de-sac at the end of Nicholl Drive, which intersects with Panorama Road south of the Panorama West clubhouse.
On the south shore, several trail sections were combined into a single system that offers a variety of lengths and difficulty. Brown fiberglass trail markers are in place at each junction of the Lake Panorama trail system, in contrast to the blue markers used for the Panorama cross country trails.
Thompson, who lives at Lake Panorama with his wife, is a fan of both trails.
“If you enjoy walking for exercise, try either the south shore or the west trails,” he says. “There are maps at the beginning of both. Both trails can be done in a loop or an out and back. Whatever distance or route you want to take will provide you with some excellent natural scenery, occasional wildlife, photo opportunities and safety from automobile traffic.”
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PANORAMA SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS
Greg Thompson, head coach for the Panorama Community Schools cross country teams, shared this analysis of the 2024 teams.
The high school boys currently have five athletes on the roster, but only two have high school cross country experience. Noah Poldberg, a senior in his second year of cross country, qualified for the state meet last season and comes into this season as a favorite to earn a top-15 individual runner spot at the state meet this year.
Zach Hayden, a junior, is in his third season. Zach has made significant improvement in distance running and is a great example of what hard work and dedication can do for a distance runner. His first race as a freshman was almost 28 minutes. Now he is finishing races around 21:30. Others on the boys team all are freshmen — Bennett Allen, Jeremiah King and Blaydn Wearmouth.
The high school girls currently have 10 athletes on the roster, with three of them having run as individual qualifiers at the state cross country meet. Mary Fett, a junior, individually qualified in 2022. Kylie Rochholz and Laicey Lutz, both sophomores, qualified individually in 2023 with Kylie earning a podium finish by placing ninth. Others on the team are showing great dedication and improving each day. Maddy Lutz and Jolynne Roeder are seniors. Almiranda Burnett and Lydia Lleshi are juniors. Rounding out the team are freshmen Corrie Knapp, Nella Rivas and Grace Tripple.
Two junior high boys are running this year. Grayson Shaffer is in eighth grade, and Eli Tripple is in seventh. There are five junior high girls. Olivia Beaudet, Rhaica Spencer and Alyssa Stanley are eighth graders. Avery Allen and Izzy Tripple are in seventh grade. The junior high teams have their first race Sept. 12 at Greene County.