The weather held out one final time for the Wyoming State Cross Country Championships in Cheyenne on Saturday, as the Powell Panther girls’ cross country team finished second as a team, led by two All-State runners including a state champion, and the boys’ team took a leap into the top five after finishing second to last a year ago.

Leading the way for the Panther girls was Kinley Cooley, who became the first ever cross country state champion in school history as she outpaced the field with a time of 19 minutes, 8.2 seconds, winning by 30 seconds ahead of the second place competitor.

For the second year in a row Kenna Jacobsen found her way into the top 10, earning All-State honors with a 10th place finish with a time of 20:35.9.

“I knew I was 10th. I was looking back the whole time, praying that the girl behind me didn’t have a good kick because I knew I was in 10th and I did not want to leave in 11th,” Jacobsen said. “Last year at the end of track I was kind of disappointed with how I finished at state just dealing with injuries and stuff. Then I couldn’t run for most of the summer because of the injury. I was kind of scared how in shape I was going to be.”

Just behind Jacobsen was Karee Cooley, finishing 14th with a time of 21:09 as the third Panther across the line.

In close succession to round out the team score for the Panthers was Shelby Zickefoose in 20th with a 21:45.9 and Melissa Merritt in 23rd with a 21:56.6.

Sixth across was Eleasah Horsley in 25th with a 22:03.1 and Macie Velasco was the final Panther across with a time of 23:47.8 to take 42nd.

“After experiencing an asthma attack and actually sitting down on the course to catch her breath, Macie got back up and finished in a time of 23:47.8,” coach Ashley Hildebrand said.

Overall the Panther girls finished second as a team with 64 points, behind Cody which won with 37 points.

Despite not being closer to a second straight title, Jacobsen said there was no disappointment among the team following a third straight podium finish.

“I’m so proud of this team,” Jacobsen said. “We were seeded second and we got second, so there’s nothing really to be upset about. We didn’t pull off the state championship, but we still got second and that’s really impressive. We’ve got a lot of experience on our team, but we’ve also got some younger girls who haven’t ran at state so that’s pretty cool.”

Hildebrand added that the girls continue to put in the effort while having fun each year.

“Every year our goal is to get on that podium as a team and this group is not afraid to put in the miles in order to meet that goal,” Hildebrand said. “And they have fun doing it.”

On the boys’ side the Panthers had a strong meet, improving all the way into the top five after a 15th place finish a year ago.

Leading the way for Powell was Liam Taylor, who finished 22nd with a time of 18:16.1.

“Liam had been sick all week, and while he was in 10th place just after the 2 mile mark, he just didn’t have enough strength this week to hold that position,” Hildebrand said.

Korbyn Warren was second across for Powell in 25th with an 18:32.6, just ahead of Colin Walker in 26th with an 18:36.6.

Alex Werner was fourth across for Powell in 39th with a 19:15.9, while Nathan Varian was 42nd with a time of 19:22.2.

Channing Wenzel was sixth with a personal best time of 19:55.4 to take 51st and Troy Cheatham was seventh in with a 20:07.6 to take 58th.

Overall the boys leap to take fifth in the standings with a team score of 154, just off the podium as Lander was fourth with a 149.

“This group of boys has gotten so much better over the course of the season and were only six points away from bringing home a trophy,” Hildebrand said. “We are so proud of their work ethic in practice, their positive attitudes and how they always give their very best efforts out on the race course.”

Worland narrowly won the boys’ title with a score of 41, just ahead of Buffalo with 42 and Mountain View with 57.