Panthers coaches combine team building with cross country workouts

PINCKNEYVILLE - Panthers head cross country cach Ryan Bruns combined running with fun activities for the annual cross country version of the Amazing Race around Pinckneyville on Monday.

Team members for the upcoming season join with cross country alumni who are divided into coed teams of four for six stops of unique challenges for team building. They start and end on the football field - beginning with passing a basketball with their feet for the length of the field and ending with a balancing game using golf balls.

Other stops include the grade school for a challenge with Ping-Pong balls, the fairgrounds for Frisbee bowling using water bottles, the former medical office for slide puzzles, and the water plant area for a strange "unicorn" ring toss.

All team members must complete each challenge before running to the next venue. The top team overall was the high school group of Lindsey Geffers, Cagney Kwiatkowski, Daniel Martin, and Trent Morgenstern. The top alumni team and second overall was Shay Kellerman, Luke Miller, Emily Rakers, and Hunter Queen, now assistant cross country coach.