PHS boys tracksters fifth in season-opening event

CODY — The Powell High School girls track and field team wasted no time letting Cody know that 2015 might look a lot like 2014.

At Saturday’s Yellowstone Sports Medicine Invitational at Cody High School, the first outdoor meet this season, the end result for the Powell Lady Panthers and Cody Fillies looked similar to the final meet of last season.

Cody scored 183 points to claim the invite crown, but the young Lady Panthers stole a couple of races to churn out 111 points for a second-place finish in the seven-team race.

PHS finished second to Cody at the Class 3A state meet a season ago, but looked poised to give the Fillies another run in May. The Lady Panthers placed eight individuals in the top five, including four that scored victories, claimed a win in the 4x800 relay and qualified several girls for state to highlight a positive first step in head coach Scott Smith’s 23rd season.

Smith was happy with his veteran athletes as well as his up-and-comers, especially on a day that a harsh wind cut through the Park County area for most of the day.

“Our young kids came out and did a really good job ... we’re really pleased with how they did,” Smith said. “That wind was not a lot of fun, and they just stuck their nose down and did really well.”

Seniors Sarah Jean O’Neill, Bailey Sanders and Stephanie Liggett, juniors Anissa Warner and Danna Hanks and freshman Julia Kay O’Neill all earned pre-qualifications for state, and did so in impressive fashion.

Smith expressed high expectations for Hanks prior to Saturday, and the youngster delivered in the 100 hurdles. Hanks raced to a 17.03 to qualify for state and stun Cody senior and defending state champion Emily Reed (17.10) for a victory. Hanks also placed second in the long jump with a leap of 15 feet, 9 inches.

“That’s the first time she had beaten Reed,” Smith said of Hanks’ hurdles win. “... and that was a really, really good race for Danna.”

Sarah Jean O’Neill had a solid day with a victory in the 400 meter dash with a time of 1:07.03. She later helped the 4x800 relay team to victory with a state-qualifying time of 10:51.91, almost 12 seconds better than runner-up Cody. Liggett, Sanders and O’Neill’s younger sister Julia Kay O’Neill also ran legs of the relay.

Julia Kay O’Neill showed flashes of excellence with wins in the 800 (2:36.46) and 1,600 (state-qualifying time of 5:41.00).

“What a day for that young lady,” Smith said. “When you can have freshmen contribute like that, it makes you feel really good about where your program is headed.”

Warner placed third in the high jump after clearing 4-11, 2 inches shy of Cody’s Reed and Regina Gee (both posted 5-01.

“Really happy with Anissa ... the girl just had knee surgery a month ago,” Smith said matter-of-factly. “Really happy with where she could end up in a month or so.”

Sophomore Teo Faulkner placed second in the 1,600 behind teammate O’Neill and second in the 3,200 behind Cody freshman Erin Woolley. Freshman Emma Andreason took fourth in the same race.

Sarah Jean O’Neill added a fourth-place performance in the 200 to her day, while Liggett earned fourth in the 400 behind O’Neill. Junior Lexee Craig claimed fifth in the long jump when she sailed to a 14-09.

Short-handed boys place fifth

Coach Smith nearly laughed while attempting to count how many Panther boys were absent from Saturday’s action.

With injuries and personal obligations claiming several of his experience athletes, Smith was forced to field a team comprised mostly of youngsters.

Defending state champion PHS still managed to salvage 81 points for a fifth-place finish out of eight teams. Cody edged Riverton 116-114 to take first.

The Panthers finished with six athletes earning top five finishes in one or more events, including first-place and runner-up finishes in both the discus and shot put.

“There was some kids that I was pleasantly surprised with, and some kids we’re hoping will be good, and they will be,” said Smith, who only had a handful of boys Saturday. “This was a good place to work from.”

The biggest omission from Saturday might have been senior Kalei Smith, last season’s state champion high jumper and runner-up in the 110 hurdles and long jump. Smith has a banged-up knee and sat out this meet.

Seniors Carter Baxter and Riley Stringer instead paced PHS, posting high scores in the shot put and discus. Baxter punched his ticket to state with a discus throw of 146 feet, while Stringer placed second with a toss of 136 feet, falling short of a state qualification. The two Panthers exchanged places in the shot put, as Stringer placed first with a heave of 49-10.25, a foot better than Baxter’s 48-09.75. Both tosses were good for state qualifications.

“Those guys are going to do good things for us this year,” coach Smith said. “It will be fun to watch them battle each other and the rest of the class this season.”

Junior Jackson Griffin left Smith impressed after a second-place finish in the high jump (5-10) and fourth-place finishes in the 200 (26.30) and 400 (57.72).

“Jackson Griffin did a really good job. Second high jump, fourth in 200 and 400 — fantastic,” Smith said. “Last year, he wasn’t placing for us, and now he starts this year by placing. Just great stuff.”

Sophomore Paige Gann fell short of a victory in the 300 hurdles, speeding to a 46.91 for fourth place, just shy of winner and Thermopolis junior Jacob Hart (46.02). Junior Kaden Moore placed fifth behind Griffin  in the 400 with a time of 57.93. Sophomore Zach Easum earned fifth in the discus with a throw of 120-10.

Smith said that given the circumstances, he was happy with how his boys competed, and is excited for how quickly some of his younger guys are getting in the swing of things.

“It’s a good way to start, but it’s a long season,” the coach said. “They’re picking things up quickly and I think they’ll keep learning all year.

“We’re going to be a good, competitive team.”