Competitors from all around the state had the Panther cross country team squaring off against more than a dozen other teams including 4A competition on the state championship course in Ethete on Saturday — with the girls placing third in the Chief Nation Invitational and the boys placing 10th.

Kinley Cooley again led the way for the Panthers, finishing fifth with a personal best time of 20:21.5.

Cooley placed behind one 3A competitor in Ryann Smith, who placed fifth at state last year, and three Natrona County runners.

Her time vaulted her onto the Powell High School top 10 all-time list, running 1:30 faster than her state finals time on the same course last year.

Kenna Jacobsen was the second Panther across the line in 12th place. She ran a personal best of 21:08.1.

“We are confident that she will break 21 minutes in the near future,” Panther cross country coach Ashley Hildebrand said. “She is very determined and is always looking forward to the next race.”

Next across for the Panthers was Brynn Hillman, who finished in 23rd overall in a time of 21:56.4 — 30 seconds faster than her time on the same course last year.

Melissa Merritt was next across just behind Hillman, finishing in 24th in 21:58.

Megan Jacobsen was the fifth runner for Powell, finishing 30th with a time of 22:22.8.

Sixth for the Panthers was Audrey Johnson, who ran a personal best of 22:59.2 to finish in 40th.

Rounding out the varsity squad for the Panthers was Salem Brown, who ran a season best time of 23:24.5 to finish in 47th. That time was an improvement over her run on the course last year.

“We cannot say enough about this group of girls and their dedication to running and their teammates,” Hildebrand said. “They all push each other in practice and show up on Saturdays to do their long run together. Every coach wants to bottle the kind of team chemistry these girls have because it is so special. They keep making each other better week in and week out.”

For the boys, Daniel Merritt again led the way for the Panthers in a talented field on Saturday.

Merritt placed 10th against six All-State runners from 3A and 4A, passing several runners at the line to finish in 17:14.2.

Korbyn Warren was second across for the Panthers, placing 49th in a personal best time of 18:47.7.

“Korbyn [Warren] is getting better, stronger and is running with more confidence each week,” Hildebrand said.

The third runner for the Panthers was Liam Taylor, who ran 19:34.1 to take 64th.

Breckin Street was the next runner in 74th, finishing in a time of 20:01.6.

Jace Hyde came in 78th in a time of 20:14.1 and Juan Torres just behind him in 79th with a time of 20:15.6.

Justin Hobbs was the last runner across for Powell, finishing 93rd with a time of 21:03.6.

“We have a lot of boys in the 20 to 21 minute range that have a lot of potential to break into the teens in the next few weeks,” Hildebrand said. “Like the girls, we look for the boys to work together in practice to make each other better and in turn, run stronger each week and place higher as a team.”

Panther cross country will now make its way back down to Fremont County this weekend, heading to Lander to take part in an invitational. Races are set to begin at 1:30 p.m. at Lander Valley High School.