Cross country fields largest team in years

Intriguing mix of talented vets, fresh faces

Posted 9/3/19

With almost 40 athletes on the roster, the Powell High School cross country teams will look to be a force this season in Class 3A.

“There’s a lot of interest in the sport this …

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Cross country fields largest team in years

Intriguing mix of talented vets, fresh faces

Posted

With almost 40 athletes on the roster, the Powell High School cross country teams will look to be a force this season in Class 3A.

“There’s a lot of interest in the sport this season, a lot of enthusiasm and energy,” said PHS head coach Cliff Boos. “There’s good camaraderie among the athletes; they seem to enjoy being out here with each other.”

The Panthers and the Lady Panthers opened the 2019 season Friday at the Billings Invitational. The teams held time trials last week to prepare the runners for the first meet of the season, as both JV and varsity made the trip to Montana.

“We had to pick our top seven for the JV and varsity on the boys’ and girls’ sides,” Boos said. “We had some really good times, some really good running.”

 

Lady Panthers

Boos, who’s being assisted by Ashley Hildebrand, has 18 athletes on the girls’ side this season, up from just eight a year ago. The longtime coach said that barring injury, it should be an exciting season for the Lady Panthers.

“We’re thinking with any kind of luck, with not too many injuries, we should really have a solid girls team,” Boos said. “It would be nice to seem them really do well this season. I’m really optimistic about that.”

Senior Kayla Kolpitcke will look to build on a stellar junior season, where she earned 3A West All-Conference honors and placed 12th at the 3A State Meet in Sheridan.

“Kayla is just going to have a super season again for her senior year,” Boos said. “She’s been so solid, and is such a strong runner. She’s been working out all summer, and I know she’s ready to go.”

Also impressing Boos is sophomore Kabrie Cannon. Cannon was second amongst the Lady Panthers at the state meet last season, finishing 51st. Boos said the young runner is looking especially strong this year.

“She [Cannon] is looking great in practice,” he said. “It should be a breakout season for her.”

Junior Hailee Hyde was hampered by injuries last season, but still managed to finish 82nd at state. Also battling injuries last season was junior Jozi Simpson. However, Boos said both runners seem poised to start this season healthy.

“Both Hailee [Hyde] and Jozi [Simpson] ran really well at our time trials the other night,” he said. “The injuries have been tough on both of them, but I think they’re ready to go.”

Junior Madelyn Horton finished 83rd at state last season, and also had an impressive run in last week’s time trials.

A familiar face is back this season for the Lady Panthers in the form of senior Kaitlyn Decker. Decker had run cross country in the past, but took a year off to join the Panther cheer team. Boos said Decker will be welcomed back with open arms.

“Kaitlyn told me she’s glad to be back, she really likes to run,” he said. “She’s been running really good in practice.”

The Lady Panthers also have a pair of foreign exchange students joining the team this season in seniors Greta Artursson from Sweden and Sanne Flateby from Norway.

“They [Artursson and Flateby] were trying volleyball, things like that, but they both really enjoy running,” Boos said. “They play a lot of running sports like soccer back where they’re from, so we’re glad to have them with us.”

 

Panthers

On the boys’ side, juniors Tyler Pfeifer and Joey Hernandez will look to fill the void left by graduating seniors Alan Merritt and Jayden Yates.

“As always, Tyler Pfeifer and Joey Hernandez look really good,” Boos said. “These guys are juniors now, holy cow.”

Both cracked the 18-minute mark at the state meet last season, with Pfeifer placing 22nd and Hernandez 26th.

Fellow junior Lane Franks — fresh off a solid season on the soccer pitch for the Panthers last spring — is also looking strong heading into the season. Franks finished 68th at state last year after earning a spot on the state team with a stellar effort the second half of the season.

“Lane Franks is running really good,” Boos said. “He’s a great athlete.”

Sophomore Cole Frank will also look to make an impact, as will freshman Daniel Merritt and junior Isaac Summers.

“Senior Dylan Cordes is running really well, too,” Boos said. “That’s a pretty good, solid bunch of guys for us. And we have several runners competing in JV that are running pretty well also. We’re in pretty good shape there.”

Boos admitted there’s a lot of inexperience on both teams this season, but said that won’t deter the teams from having a “super season.”

“With all of that inexperience, all these kids have so much room for improvement,” he said. “They’re just going to get better and better, and I just love to watch that. Once that light goes on in some of these kids, it’s so terrific to see them be able to do that.”

The PHS cross country teams will be in Montana again on Friday, competing in the Hardin Invitational.

Powell High School, Panther Cross Country

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