Five members of the Powell High School track team traveled to Casper to compete in a best of the best meet last week — and two Panthers came home with medals.

Three of the Powell’s five representatives at the Track Classic were pole vaulters: Garret Henderson, Brody Karhu and Maddy Hanks, while JuliaKay O’Neill competed in the 800 meter run and Colby Warner in the high jump.

Wyoming’s top 10 competitors in field events and long distance running events (800 meters and greater) and the top eight athletes in laned running events (400 meters or less), are invited to Kelly Walsh High School each year for the Track Classic. It is truly the best of the best battling it out, because the top 10 or eight tracksters are not determined by class, but on times in running events and heights or distances in field events.

“I’m proud of how they competed,” said PHS head track coach Scott Smith. “Only 10 get invited and only three get medals, so to have the kids bringing back two medals is great.”

Smith noted that the majority of competitors at the classic are seniors, but Henderson was the only senior among PHS’ contingent — Hanks and O’Neill are juniors, Warner is a sophomore and Karhu is a freshman.

O’Neill entered the 800 meters ranked fourth and finished second with a time of 2:24.55.

“I thought she ran a great race, probably her best race in two years,” said PHS middle distance track coach Tracy McArthur, who thought it was O’Neill’s fastest time in two years.

McArthur added that O’Neill “did exactly what we asked her to do — went out and ran a great second lap, separated herself from the pack and

finished strong.”

Out of the 10 runners competing in the 800, O’Neill was the only runner from Class 3A: one runner was from 1A Ten Sleep and the other eight hailed from 4A schools.

“It’s nice outside and I’m glad it’s not raining,” O’Neill said of the Classic. “It’s a nice track; I like this track.”

Coach McArthur added that O’Neill “runs her best times here.”

Kelly Walsh not only hosts the annual classic — which was pushed back to May 2 from April 28 because of weather — but also the state track meet.

Henderson was the second PHS trackster to bring home a medal, placing third in pole vault by clearing 13 feet.

“I was actually stoked,” Henderson said of getting to compete in the Track Classic. “I was really excited to be able to go, have a lot of fun, a lot of kids were there, a lot of good competitors. It was really fun.”

Henderson was ranked fifth heading into the meet and PHS pole vault coach Greg Bennett said Henderson rose to the occasion.

Henderson is preparing for state and said competing at the Track Classic has helped in the preparation.

“As much practice as you can get always helps,” he said.

Bennett said the pole vaulters put in a lot of time practicing throughout the season and are traditionally one of the first ones to practice and the last to leave.

Bennett also said that having three Powell pole vaulters competing at the Track Classic was an honor as a coach.

Karhu posted a no height after attempting to start at 12 feet — just 6 inches shy of his personal best, and the first time he’d tried beginning at that height.

In pole vaulting, an athlete can choose the height where they’ll start competing; if they don’t clear that height in three chances, a score of no height is entered. Choosing which height to enter is a strategic move, determined by both athletes and coaches. That’s because misses at lower heights can count against an athlete in the event that two athletes reach the same top height.

Bennett said he thinks Karhu had some nerves going into the competition as only a freshman; the coach added that he was proud of Karhu.

In upcoming practices, Karhu will be starting at 12 feet instead of lower heights, Bennett said.

“I thought it was a lot of fun,” Karhu said. “I really enjoyed it and it was an honor being a freshman and being able to come up here and pole vault with the best of the best.”

He added that, “I hope to come back for the rest of my high school career.”

Bennett said he expects to see great things from Karhu in future years.

Out of the 10 boy pole vaulters at the Track Classic, seven came from 3A schools, two were from 4A and one was from 2A.

On the girls side of pole vaulting, only three were from 3A, seven from 4A and one from 1A. There were 11 competitors on the girls side because of ties.

Hanks finished sixth, tying her personal best of 9 feet, 6 inches — a feat Bennett was excited about. 

“It was a lot of fun, definitely a good experience, so it was good,” Hanks said of competing in her first Classic.

She had been tied for fifth going into the event.

Overall, Bennett said the Track Classic is a good experience, allowing the pole vaulters to see what the state pole vault pit is like.

“I’m excited, definitely excited,” Hanks said of competing at state. She added that last week’s event will help in getting “first bug jitters” out of the way.

Colby Warner competed in the high jump and finished sixth, clearing the bar at 6 feet.

“I really just wanted to come up and have a good time and jump with all the other people that are just as good or better than me,” said Warner.

PHS jumping coach Ashley Hildebrand said Warner jumped pretty well considering that weather conditions limited practices prior to the Track Classic.

Warner came into the Track Classic ranked second, with a height of 6 feet, 3 inches, and the event was won with a height of 6 feet 2 inches.

Hildebrand said that Warner had some inconsistencies with his approach, but having now competed at the site of the state meet, they know what adjustments need to be made.

“I look for him to do well,” said Hildebrand of Warner at regionals and state.

Warner said he’s ready for the state competition.

State track is May 18-20, with the 3A West Regional track meet Friday and Saturday in Rock Springs.