Panther Track teams head to regionals FridayTrack and field season begins building to a crescendo this weekend and the Powell High School Panthers embark for 3A regional competition in Cody. For athletes who have not qualified for the state meet, the event marks one final chance to earn a spot in Casper.

“The top eight finishers in the individual events and the top four relay teams advance to state,” said Panther track and field coach Scott Smith.

The event also serves as a qualifying meet, so entrants can also earn a spot in the state meet by surpassing the state qualifying standard in their event, regardless of their overall placing.

“It doesn't happen often, but I have seen it where a kid finishes ninth at regionals or a relay team comes in fifth and still qualifies for state because they met the standard in the event,” said Smith.

For the most part, however, the focus is on reaching the finals and earning one of those coveted top eight spots in individual events. For the Panthers, who already have a number of automatic qualifiers, the goal is to qualify everyone on the weekend roster.

“Everyone we're taking, we expect to have a chance to qualify,” said Smith. “You never know for certain what's going to happen, but we want the kids we take there to have a chance to get to the next level and compete at state.”

Competition will be the name of the game when the regional meet gets started at 9 a.m. on Friday. Smith notes the meet occupies a key spot on the team's schedule.

“This is one of the two meets (along with the state championships) we really focus on throughout the year,” said Smith. “For the kids who have a goal of qualifying for state or getting to state, the process really starts for real this weekend. You can tell there's a little extra with this meet. The kids go out there and really get after each other.”

Six schools will join Powell and Cody in regional competition. Lovell, Worland, Pinedale, Kemmerer, Lyman and Jackson will also attend the meet.

“We haven't been to a meet with Lyman or Kemmerer yet this year, but you can open up a paper or go online and see how people have done,” said Smith. “We know what's coming up.”

The Panthers' biggest competition at this weekend's regional is expected to come from the meet host, Cody. The Broncs and Fillies are both the top-rated programs in Class 3A.

“That's the reality of the situation,” said Smith. “Cody's the host and they have a very good program. They should be favored to win, but we're going to go after them and see what happens. I expect our boys' team will be right there battling with them.”

On the girls' side, Smith sees the Panther girls battling with Lovell for regional runner-up honors.

Friday's session begins at 9 a.m. and will feature preliminary competition in a number of shorter races and hurdle events. The 800, 3200 and 4x100 relays will also hold their finals on Friday.

Friday will also see the finals in a number of field events. The boys' and girls' pole vault, the girls' triple jump and shot put, and the boys' discus, high jump and triple jump will all be decided on Friday.

Saturday's session, which also begins at 9 a.m., will feature the finals of the remaining events.

“I just can't say enough about our coaching staff and the way they work to prepare the kids throughout the season for this meet,” said Smith. “Both they and the older kids on the team do a good job of passing along and teaching the little things that have made Powell track successful for the past 50 years.”