Stuttgart freshman Anna Konon leads a pack that includes Ramstein’s Carol Swinson, center left, and Kaiserslautern’s Alex Beck, center right, during a cross country meet on Sept. 14, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – Regan Stewart was riding the struggle bus around the cross country course at Ramstein High School on Saturday morning.

Feeling ill, Stuttgart’s usual No. 1 runner had been dropped by fellow Panther Pacha Miletich and Ramstein’s Rose Thompson. Teammate Anna Konon also caught her in the last mile.

The freshman Konon didn’t leave the junior Stewart in her wake. Instead, Konon pushed Stewart to follow her pace to the finish line.

It worked, as Konon and Stewart placed third and fourth, respectively, in times of 20 minutes, 28 seconds and 20:29.

That moment is indicative camaraderie of the Panthers, according to one of their leaders.

“I love the community that we’ve fostered,” Stewart said. “I think we have a really, really good group of girls, and they’re all so supportive and they’re all so sweet. I think we do a really good job of pushing each other and getting each other to the finish.”

Once done, the Panthers again showed why they’re a powerhouse in the DODEA European cross country scene.

Miletich, a junior, outsprinted Thompson to win in a time of 20:07. Then, senior Sophie Templeton, the team’s second runner last fall, crossed in fifth place in 20:41.

In the end, Stuttgart defeated second-place Ramstein 24-34 in the team competition.

That quartet provides the basis for what could be another European title in Stuttgart’s trophy cabinet when the season ends at Baumholder on Oct. 26.

“With those four, they’re just running really awesome,” Stuttgart coach Lisa Welsh said. “We still have Lillian (Austin), Mackenzie (Welsh) and some of the other girls that come back from having strong track seasons.

“So, it’s looking good. We’re excited.”

Miletich has been a revelation.

Transferring from Vicenza over the summer, the Stuttgart coaching staff had an idea of what to expect when Miletich joined. Yet she’s exceeded expectations, running 5:58 faster than her 2023 Euros time on Saturday.

The junior didn’t lead the race, instead tailing Thompson until the finishing straight. Thompson thenkicked herself and forced Miletich to hit another gear to hold her off.

“The most important thing for me is to conserve for the big kick at the end, not pushing too hard throughout the race,” Miletich said.

Stuttgart’s top quartet are in the running for the individual title as well. Welsh said she expects Templeton’s time to drop and match the other three, with all looking to break the 20-minute barrier.

The veteran Stewart doesn’t doubt their talent. She said it could be a tossup.

“We practice together; we have the same splits for the most part,” Stewart said. “I really think that the game is all mental because I think we all have the skill, but it’s just who has the drive.”

Stuttgart junior Pacha Miletich sprints to the finish line ahead of Ramstein's Rose Thompson during a cross country meet on Sept. 14, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart teammates Anna Konon, left, and Regan Stewart duel down the finishing straight for third and fourth place during a cross country meet on Sept. 14, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern’s Uno Tate runs through the woods as teammate Bailey Wesseler and Stuttgart’s Klaryssa Lemery trail during a cross country meet on Sept. 14, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Olivia Loringer looks to her left as Kaiserslautern's Ashley Kosterman tries to pass her during a cross country meet on Sept. 14, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Runners blitz off the starting line in the girls race of a cross country meet on Sept. 14, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

The Stuttgart boys team, meanwhile, still are smarting from losing the European championship to Wiesbaden last year.

That drove the Panthers during the offseason, and they are hoping that hard work will pay off.

“They want that title back,” Welsh said. “They’re chasing after it, and they’re hoping that we can bring it back home this year.”

On Saturday, they put one title rival on notice. Stuttgart eked out a 32-34 victory over Ramstein, which placed second at the 2023 European championships.

The Royals enjoyed an eight-point advantage through each team’s first three runners, but the Panthers managed to get six runners in the top 10 individuals.

Jack Balfrey-Boyd paced Stuttgart in third with a time of 17:21, and Ethan Cohen took fifth in 17:34. Then, Austin and Jackson Griswold, Patrick Bailey and Preston Cook crossed in seventh through 10th places.

Ramstein’s Spencer Jackson and Adden Lowe, both on 17:10, went first and second on the day.

Welsh said the Panthers were happy to see where they sit against high-quality competition so early in the season.

“We saw them here last year in the first meet of the season, and then we didn’t see them again for a long time,” Welsh said. “They made big improvements in that time that we didn’t see them. It’s great that we’re going to get to see them a couple of times this season.”

The Panthers continue to highlight their depth.

One season after producing 14 runners who hit sub-19 minutes, three runners on Saturday eclipsed 18 minutes in Balfrey-Boyd, Cohen and Austin Griswold (17:56). Two – Jackson Griswold and Bailey – came within four seconds of joining them.

Welsh said she expects many runners to drop into the 17-minute range this season, making the competition to make the seven-man European roster fierce.

If more runners continue to drop time, Stuttgart’s No. 1 runner expressed his optimism for team success in 2024.

“In the sub-19 range, our depth is unmatched by Ramstein or any other team,” Belfrey-Boyd said. “By the end of the season, our team’s really going to have a chance to speed up and have a good shot winning Euros.”

Stuttgart's Jack Balfrey-Boyd runs during a cross country meet on Sept. 14, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Alconbury's Alan Smith runs through the woods during a cross country meet on Sept. 14, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern teammates Kai Kutz, left, and Leo Schell run together at a cross country meet on Sept. 14, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Runners get off to a fast start during the boys race of a cross country meet on Sept. 14, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Spencer Jackson, center forefront, leads fellow Royal Adden Lowe and Stuttgart's Ethan Cohen during a cross country meet on Sept. 14, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Lakenheath's Timothy Wesley runs ahead of Stuttgart's Caleb Granger and Kaiserslautern's Micah Miller during a cross country meet on Sept. 14, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)