The Powell Panther boys’ track and field team added a new automatic qualifying event for state in the final weekend of the regular season. Powell battled tough wind on Thursday in Cody at the Trackstravaganza before adding the 4x100 to its list of automatic qualifiers at the Bobcat T&F Invitational in Thermopolis on Friday.

CODY TRACKSTRAVAGANZA

Windy conditions in Cody on Thursday hindered several opportunities for qualifying times on the track, but produced some strong performances in the three team meet against the host Broncs and Sheridan.

Four Panthers claimed victory in the difficult weather, with Stuart Shoopman winning the 110 meter hurdles in 15.98, Isaiah Woyak the high jump clearing 6 feet even, Caden Nelson the long jump with a leap of 21 feet, 1 inch, and Seston Shoopman the shot put with a throw of 43-4.

“It was great to see Caden get a big, long jump in. He’s been close and I think this is the type of breakthrough that will really help him at regionals this weekend,” coach Scott Smith said.

He noted Shoopman’s victory in the hurdles was against one of the top hurdlers in the state regardless of classification.

Powell had several athletes close to qualifying for events, but was unable to add any new qualifiers at the Trackstravaganza.

The Panthers finished behind both Bronc teams, earning 144.5 points, well behind Cody which was second with 222.5 points and Sheridan which won with 230.

BOBCAT T&F INVITATIONAL

Heading further south to Thermopolis on Friday the Panthers took part in a large meet against competition that ranged from 1A all the way to 3A at the Bobcat T&F Invitational.

A new qualifying mark came in the 4x100 relay, where the quartet of Stuart Shoopman, Nathan Preator, Breckyn Kobbe and Nelson finished fourth with a time of 45.35.

“They have been close all year to getting that automatic qualification in the 4x100 relay and they really blew it out of the water,” Smith said. “The nice thing is they still have more room for improvement and this is the time of the season to peak.”

Powell also added a second qualifying team in the 1600 sprint medley relay, where Stuart Shoopman, Marshall Lewis, Evan Whitlock and Liam Taylor finished in first place with a 3:48.4.

Individual wins for the Panthers came in the 100 meters from Nelson with an 11.44 and Woyak in the triple jump with a 42-2 1/2.

Powell finished fourth as a team, but Smith was impressed with his young team’s continued growth as the Panthers split up events both days in Cody and Thermopolis.

“I really think that our young kids are learning how to compete and be their best,” Smith said. “I’ve seen signs all year, but this last week it seems to be coming together.”

REGIONAL MEET

Now heading into postseason action, the Panthers will head down to Mountain View to take part in the 3A West Regional meet.

Action is set to kick off at noon on Friday, and it will resume at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Powell finished second at last year’s regional meet, losing on the final event, but expects to be in the mix along with a pair of teams.

“The boys have no clear favorite, with Mountain View, Lovell and us (expected) to be in a close battle all the way to the end,” Smith said.

CODY TRACKSTRAVAGANZA

* Denotes state qualifying mark

Team scores — 1. Sheridan 230, 2. Cody 222.5, 3. Powell 144.5

100 meters — 5. Caden Nelson 11.72, 15. Breckyn Kobbe 12.31, 22. Marshall Lewis 12.64, 28. Toby Sessions 12.85

200 meters — 7. Caden Nelson 23.78, 19. Marshall Lewis 25.39

400 meters — 3. Evan Whitlock 54.82, 6. Landon Hyde 56.37, 10. Thomas Shuman 59.36, 11. Toby Sessions 59.43, 14. Breckyn Kobbe 1:00.43

800 meters — 4. Liam Taylor 2:04.6, 9. Korbyn Warren 2:20.08, 10. Thomas Shuman 2:31.01, 11. Nathan Varian 2:36.82, 12. Colin Walker 2:41.89

1600 meters — 7. Liam Taylor 4:57.71

3200 meters — 2. Korbyn Warren 11:04.67, 6. Colin Walker 11:36.9, 7. Nathan Varian 11:52.73

110 meter hurdles — 1. Stuart Shoopman 15.98*, 7. Lincoln Crawford 17.94, 8. Jeremy Harms 18.54

300 meter hurdles — 8. Sawyer Wormald 46.35

4x100 relay — 4. Stuart Shoopman, Nathan Preator, Breckyn Kobbe and Caden Nelson 45.79

High jump — 1. Isaiah Woyak 6-0*, T6. Landon Hyde 5-6

Pole vault — T3. Adam Williams 13-0*, 5. Jeremy Harms 12-6*, 8. Wyatt Heffington 11-0

Long jump — 1. Caden Nelson 21-1*, 4. Marshall Lewis 19-3, 12. Breckyn Kobbe 18-3, 22. Evan Staidle 15-1

Triple jump — 7. Evan Staidle 36-5 1/4, 10. Sawyer Wormald 35-2 1/4

Shot put — 1. Seston Shoopman 43-4, 2. Gabe Weimer 43-0, 3. Jonathan Harms 41-11 1/2, 8. Keona Wisniewski 37-11 3/4

Discus — 2. Gabe Weimer 128-5, 3. Jonathan Harms 124-10, 4. Keona Wisniewski 123-4, 5. Brady Harvey 123-2, 6. Seston Shoopman 115-9

BOBCAT T&F INVITATIONAL

Team scores — 1. Lovell 109, 2. Worland 101.5, 3. Thermopolis 101, 4. Powell 91, 5. Rawlins 79, 6. Burlington 59, 7. Kemmerer 29, 8. Dubois 26, 9. Glenrock 24, 10. Ten Sleep 18, 11. Big Piney 16, 12. Little Snake River 15, 13. Pinedale 12, 14. Saratoga 11, 15. Meeteetse 3, T16. Riverside 2.5 and Riverside 2.5, T18. Arapahoe Charter School and Wind River 2, 20. Fort Washakie 1

100 meters — 1. Caden Nelson 11.44*, 16. Breckyn Kobbe 12.11, 24. Marshall Lewis 12.38

200 meters — 21. Marshall Lewis 25.58, 23. Breckyn Kobbe 25.84

400 meters — 14. Thomas Shuman 58.09, 23. Toby Sessions 1:00.37

1600 meters — 4. Korbyn Warren 4:47.61, 14. Colin Walker 5:18.33, 18. Nathan Varian 5:27.09

3200 meters — 4. Liam Taylor 10:47.9

110 meter hurdles — 3. Stuart Shoopman 15.86, 7. Lincoln Crawford 17.72, 10. Jeremy Harms 17.99

300 meter hurdles — 6. Nathan Preator 43.9, 14. Michael Legerski 47.1, 18. Sawyer Wormald 49.05

4x100 relay — 4. Stuart Shoopman, Nathan Preator, Breckyn Kobbe and Caden Nelson 45.35*

4x400 relay — 8. Landon Hyde, Evan Whitlock, Michael Legerski and Thomas Shuman 3:55.41

4x800 relay — 3. Landon Hyde, Nathan Varian, Thomas Shuman and Korbyn Warren 9:14.03

1600 sprint medley relay — 1. Stuart Shoopman, Marshall Lewis, Evan Whitlock and Liam Taylor 3:48.4*

High jump — T4. Landon Hyde 5-8

Pole vault — T6. Wyatt Heffington 11-0, T14. Lincoln Crawford 9-6

Long jump — 5. Marshall Lewis 19-8, 6. Caden Nelson 19-4, 15. Breckyn Kobbe 17-9

Triple jump — 1. Isaiah Woyak 42-2 1/2*, 21. Sawyer Wormald 35-3 1/4, 25. Evan Staidle 34-3 1/4

Shot put — 3. Gabe Weimer 42-11 3/4, 4. Seston Shoopman 42-5, 10. Jonathan Harms 40-3, 11. Keona Wisniewski 40-1 1/2

Discus — 6. Gabe Weimer 122-10, 12. Jonathan Harms 115-10, 16. Brady Harvey 114, 17. Keona Wisniewski 113-6