Both Pekin teams making trip to Fort Dodge

IOWA CITY — 29 schools were represented this past Thursday at Iowa City Kickers Soccer Park for the right to qualify for the state cross-country meet at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge on Nov. 2. The cool, windy conditions weren’t ideal, but that didn’t deter the Pekin Panthers from performing near their highest levels.

The Lady Panthers started off the day with a brilliant showing in the girls race. Lauren Derscheid was bested by only one runner in the individual race, Iowa City Regina’s Annalee Bartels. Bartels crossed the finish line just two seconds ahead of Pekin’s top harrier. Their times were 20:48 and 20:50 respectively.

The rest of Pekin’s girls all finished inside the top 42. Lily Fariss (13th) and Sarah Eubanks (23rd) were the other Lady Panthers to garner top-25 finishes. As a team, Pekin’s ladies nabbed a second-place finish out of 14 qualifying teams, bested by only Iowa City Regina.

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