The Powell High School cross country team found success in Cody for the Foxes and Hounds, with the girls second and the boys fourth in the penultimate race of the regular season.

In the Foxes and Hounds, the junior varsity runners all take off at the same time, before the No. 7 varsity runner takes off 20 seconds later, as the varsity runners continue being released every 20 seconds until the No. 1 runner starts 2 minutes and 20 seconds later.

Karee Cooley once again led the Panthers at the front, as she passed all but one runner, Big Horn’s Lyla Marney, to take second overall, finishing in 19 minutes, 4 seconds.

Anyston Keller and Kaytlee George pushed their way into the top 10, as Keller ran 20:13.08 to take ninth and George was close behind in 10th with a 20:30.01.

Paige Sanders pushed her way into the top five runners, as she was the No. 4 runner in 28th with a personal best time of 22:09.47.

Just behind her was younger sister Kara, who took 29th with a 22:14.8 to round out the Powell team scoring.

Junior varsity runners counted as the final two varsity runners for the Panthers, as Landyn Horsley took 48th with a 24:24.3 and Natalee Laing was 50th with a 24:39.39.

Abigail Curdy placed 53rd with a 25:03.72 and Jordyn Nelson was 70th with a 28:38.32 as the final two Panther runners.

Powell finished second in the standings as a team, recording 78 points, as Cody took the team title with 60.

“We did not have a full varsity team this week because Eleasah Horsley was attending a conference and Aubree Kraft was resting,” coach Ashley Hildebrand said. “Even without our full team the girls scored very well … We are hoping to be back to full strength this week in Powell.”

Despite missing those varsity runners, the Panthers were still the top 3A team, 11 points ahead of Buffalo and 20 ahead of Worland.

On the boys’ side the Panthers had two runners earn shirts after placing in the top 15, as Ryder DeBoer led the way with a 10th place finish, running a personal best time of 17:45.45.

“Ryder gets better every race. He is really starting to figure out how to pace his 5K and I expect that he will put up an even faster time next week,” Hildebrand said.

Running a season best time just behind DeBoer was Nathan Varian, who took 12th overall with an 18:05.32.

Michael Stensing was the No. 3 runner, taking 28th with an 18:59.33, and Ben Smith finished in 32nd with a 19:12.13.

Channing Wenzel rounded out the team scoring for the Panthers in his return to action, taking 39th with a 19:39.43.

Karson Howe was the sixth varsity runner in 48th with a 19:56.8, and Justin Marquez was the final varsity runner in 61st with a 21:14.47.

Wyatt Hill was 74th with a 22:02.09 and Matthew Watson was the final runner in 76th with a 22:06.12.

The Panthers were fourth overall as a team, finishing with 120 points, as Buffalo took the team crown with 49 points, just two ahead of Worland. Cody was the other team ahead of Powell in third with 79 points.

“The boys are running strong, consistent times and are really getting into racing shape,” Hildebrand said. “We have several who are continually competing for one of the top seven varsity spots for state and are very excited to see how they run in our home invitational on Friday.”

Entering into the final week of the regular season the Panthers play host for the only time this year, as the Pinnacle Bank Powell Invitational is Friday at the Powell Golf Club.

Races begin at noon with the middle school boys, followed by the middle school girls.

Junior varsity boys start the high school races at 1 p.m. followed by the girls, and then the varsity boys race at 2 p.m. followed by the girls.

Senior recognition and awards will follow all the races at 3 p.m.