Panther cross country season reaches finish line with state meet

Posted 10/26/21

After running hundreds of miles in practices and meets, the Panthers cross country teams’ season culminated with Saturday’s state meet in Ethete.

The Powell High School girls made a …

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Panther cross country season reaches finish line with state meet

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After running hundreds of miles in practices and meets, the Panthers cross country teams’ season culminated with Saturday’s state meet in Ethete.

The Powell High School girls made a large leap from their 11th place finish a year ago, jumping up to sixth in the team standings with a score of 172. The boys also improved on their 11th place finish from last year, taking eighth overall as a team with 228 points.

   

BOYS RACE

The top finisher for the boys once again was junior Daniel Merritt, who was coming off an All Conference performance the prior week and a personal record (PR). Merritt came in just outside of the top 10 and an All State showing, finishing 13th with a time of 17:34.

“I told Daniel right before the race that he was one of the fastest guys out there and he proved it by getting out with the leaders and running a great race,” Panther cross country coach Ashley Hildebrand said. “To finish in the top 15 of this group of 3A runners is quite an achievement.”

Second across the line for the Panthers was senior and team captain Riley Schiller, as he came in 33rd with a PR of 18:22.

“I could not be more proud of how hard he worked all summer and all season to become our number two runner and team captain,” Hildebrand said of Schiller, “and I am so happy that it paid off in such a positive way for him.”

Sophomore Breckin Streeter was the third Panther across the line as he finished 55th with a time of 19:01. This was Streeter’s first year of cross country, and Hildebrand said he came in just a couple seconds off his conference time.

Senior Ben Whitlock was next to finish, as he took 61st in his final race with a time of 19:25.

Hildebrand said Whitlock was not feeling his best Saturday morning but he battled through it and posted a respectable time.

“I know he was disappointed, but he has had such a great season and I am very proud of how well he has competed all year,” Hildebrand said.

Coming just five places behind Whitlock was junior Kyle North in 66th, with a time of 19:33 to post. That represented a 23 second PR in his final race of the year.

The No. 6 runner for the Panthers was junior Justin Hobbs, who came in with a time of 20:00 and 77th overall.

Freshman Liam Taylor rounded out the running for the Panthers, coming in with a time of 20:45 for 92nd overall. Hildebrand said Taylor had consistently been the fifth runner for the varsity team, but recent heel pain slowed him down.

“He was disappointed, but as our youngest varsity runner, he has three more years to build upon his successes this season,” Hildebrand said, “and we look for him to be a very strong runner for our team next season.”

  

GIRLS RACE

Throughout the season freshman Kinley Cooley and team captain Kabrie Cannon, a senior, had been battling back and forth for the top spot on the team.

At the state meet, Cooley led the charge for the Panthers, as she finished in 20th with a time of 21:31. Cannon was battling a sideache, but was able to push through and finish just behind Cooley in 24th with a time of 21:48.

“Kabrie [Cannon] has been an outstanding leader for our girls’ team and she will be missed very much next year,” Hildebrand said.

Freshman Jordan Black was the third runner across for Powell, as she took 27th with a time of 21:56.

Sophomore Brynn Hillman was fourth for the Panthers, as she finished in 41st with a time of 22:39.

Freshman Salem Brown rounded out the top five runners for the Panthers as she came in 61st with a time of 23:39.

In her final race, senior Gabby Thomas came in 67th overall, finishing in a time of 23:54.

Sophomore Gracie Wolff continued her improvement throughout the season, rounding out the varsity scoring coming in 82nd in a time of 25:37.

“With the exception of our two seniors, Kabrie and Gabby, this was the first year of high school cross country for all of our younger girls on this varsity squad,” Hildebrand said. “They are a very determined group and they work hard together and support each other in a way that makes them all better. We look for them to accomplish great things together next season.”

Powell High School, Panther Cross Country

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