It has been a long time since Manteno’s cross country program enjoyed a season quite like the one it just completed.

At Saturday’s Class 1A State Championships, the Panthers were represented by their girls team for the first time. The boys team, which was the last Manteno cross country team to qualify for state in 1978, had multiple runners compete for the first time since 1979.

Sophomore Klarke Goranson led the girls team with a 12th-place finish (17:11.8) and secured All-State honors for the second straight season. She became the first runner in school history to earn multiple All-State selections.

“It’s really awesome we were able to make it as a whole team, especially since that’s never happened at Manteno for a girls team,” she said. “I feel very honored that I could be a part of t

See Full Page