(IGHSAU) Panorama Cross Country Coach Greg Thompson is the 2021 recipient of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s Golden Plaque of Distinction Award. Thompson will be honored before the start of the Class 1A race at the 2021 State Cross Country Meet Saturday, October 30 in Fort Dodge.

The Golden Plaque of Distinction award honors the Iowa coach who has demonstrated a successful career while making notable contributions toward school, community, and the coaching profession.

Thompson has been coaching girls’ and boys’ cross country at Panorama since 1999. His girls’ teams have captured 10 West Central Activities Conference team championships. He has had 51 girls earn all-conference honors while 29 girls have qualified for the state meet. Twelve of his girls’ teams have been state qualifiers with his 2017 team placing second. He also coaches the Panorama girls track and field team.

Thompson has been named the Iowa Association of Track Coaches at-large Coach of the Year six times and was the IATC 1A Coach of the Year in 2017.

Thompson, a native of Madrid, serves on the IATC Board of Directors and served a term on the IGHSAU/IHSAA joint cross country advisory committee.