Panorama Coach Embraces Variety of Competition at Iowa Track Meets

Boys Track and Field Head Coach Bruce Dahlhauser says facing new schools keeps the sport fresh for his team.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 4:19pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting an abstract high school track and field competition, with sharp planes of color and overlapping athletic movements.A cubist interpretation of the dynamic energy and diverse competition of an Iowa high school track meet.Des Moines Today

Panorama Boys Track and Field Head Coach Bruce Dahlhauser explains that the unique structure of the Iowa high school track season, with teams competing against a variety of opponents at different meets, provides valuable experience for his athletes and keeps the competition fresh.

Why it matters

Track and field is a sport where athletes can sometimes face the same opponents repeatedly throughout a season, which can become monotonous. Dahlhauser believes the opportunity to race against new schools from across Iowa at different meets is beneficial for his team's development and motivation.

The details

Dahlhauser notes that while certain teams will attend multiple meets together, there is always a guarantee of facing new schools as well. He says seeing this range of abilities and investment in the sport from teams in other parts of the state allows Panorama to measure itself against high-level competition.

  • Panorama will take select athletes to the 116th Drake Relays in Des Moines this Thursday through Saturday.

The players

Bruce Dahlhauser

The head coach of the Panorama Boys Track and Field team.

Panorama

The high school boys track and field team that Dahlhauser coaches.

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What they’re saying

“It does get old and monotonous when run against the same kids every meet. So to add that little bit of variety to it was really good, and then you get the range of abilities. We're seeing teams from other parts of the state (of Iowa) that they're invested in what they do. And so to have the opportunity to run against that and really measure ourselves against it is really good.”

— Bruce Dahlhauser, Head Boys Track and Field Coach

The takeaway

Dahlhauser's embrace of facing new competition throughout the Iowa high school track season demonstrates how the sport's unique structure can benefit athletes by exposing them to a diverse range of talent and investment levels, helping to keep the competition fresh and motivating.