The Powell Panther cross country team made the short trip to Cody to take part in the Foxes and Hounds on Thursday, as the girls’ team placed second behind Kinley Cooley’s record setting win and the boys finished fourth.

“This race is one of our team’s favorite races of the season and it did not disappoint,” coach Ashley Hildebrand said. “It was an absolutely beautiful afternoon and our runners had an excellent day. Twelve of them either ran a season or personal best and almost everyone ran a faster time than they did last year on this course.”

At the Foxes and Hounds, the junior varsity runners start at the gun, followed by the seven varsity runners, who take off in 20 second increments starting with the seventh runners down to the No. 1 runners.

Cooley led at the top for the Panthers once again, placing first with a time of 18:56 and setting a new course record.

“She started 2:20 after the JV runners started and passed every person on the course to come across the finish line in first place,” Hildebrand said.

Kenna Jacobsen was the No. 2 runner for the Panthers, taking off two minutes after the JV and passing nearly everyone to finish sixth with a time of 20:06.

Karee Cooley finished 14th overall with a time of 20:57 and Melissa Merritt placed 19th with a time of 21:31.

Macie Velasco was just behind in 20th with a time of 21:34, Eleasah Horsley was 24th with a 22:06 and Shelby Zickefoose was 25th in 22:09.

The girls team placed second with 60 points, just ahead of Buffalo with 69 points but behind Cody with 36.

On the boys’ side Liam Taylor led the way, finishing fifth overall with a time of 16:55 for his second fastest time of the season.

“It was good to see Liam get back under 17 minutes this week,” Hildebrand said.

Taking second for the Panthers was Korbyn Warren who finished 16th overall with a time of 17:40.

Colin Walker finished in 23rd with a time of 18:18, Alex Werner was 35th overall with a time of 19:17 and Nathan Varian was 43rd with a time of 19:34.

Troy Cheatham was 45th overall with a time of 19:41 and Channing Wenzel was 49th with a 20:02.

The boys finished with 116 points, placing behind Worland which won with 42, Buffalo with 44 and Riverton with 84.

“It was fantastic to see the boys run so well and for so many of them to achieve season and personal bests,” Hildebrand said. “They are really getting into race shape and we have several who are continually competing for one of the top seven varsity spots for state.”

Junior varsity places were included alongside the varsity runners, resulting in Salem Brown placing 30th (22:40), Jordan Black placing 32nd (22:47), Ashlee Jacobsen placing 49th (24:37), Paige Sanders placing 54th (25:29), Caydee Eden placing 56th (25:48), Allison LeBlanc placing 57th (25:49) and Jordyn Nelson placing 66th (27:27).

On the boys’ side Michael Stensing placed 55th (20:26), Michael Legerski placed 59th (20:32), Thomas Shuman placed 61st (20:38) and Ben Smith placed 77th (21:45).

The Panthers will stay at home this week, taking part in their home invitational.

The Pinnacle Bank Powell Invitational will start with middle school races at noon on Thursday, boys then girls, followed by high school races beginning at 1 p.m. The high school races will be in the order of JV boys, JV girls, varsity boys then varsity girls.