Expectations are high for the Powell High School cross country teams heading into the 2026 season, as the Panther girls return the defending individual champion and eye a return to the top of the team podium. Meanwhile, the boys continue to pursue a top four finish at the state meet after coming close in recent years.

Leading the way for the Panther girls is senior Karee Cooley, who won the individual title last season as she looks to make it three consecutive years a Panther has won the girls’ title with a time of 19 minutes, 6.5 seconds.

“She can absolutely defend that title,” coach Ashley Hildebrand said. “She looks really good. We look for her to really run and to run faster than she did last year. I think that she can get down under 18 (minutes) this year. That’s kind of our goal for her.”

Another returning All-State runner is sophomore Anyston Keller, who finished in 10th with a time of 20:42.1.

The two places in the lineup Powell needs to replace from the state team on the girls’ side are the No. 3 and No. 5 runners, with a number of young Panthers hoping to fill those spots this season.

Those returning runners from last year’s team include another sophomore in Kaytlee George who placed 13th with a 21:18, senior Eleasah Horsley who took 20th with a time of 21:49.1 and sophomore Kara Sanders who took 35th with a 22:46.4.

Powell also may turn to another senior in Paige Sanders who improved last season, as well as junior Macie Velasco and even freshman Aubree Kraft.

“We look for them, as a team, to go for that state championship too,” Hildebrand said. “I think that’s a legitimate expectation for them. As long as we can keep them all healthy, knock on wood.”

Returning to the top as a team may come with different resistance for the Panthers, as rival Cody has moved up to 4A this year. Powell can expect some challenges from both Buffalo and Worland who return much of their squads from last year.

Despite not competing against the Fillies at the state meet, Hildebrand said the Panthers still expect to see them as much as possible and will attempt to beat their local rivals whenever they can.

She said they also plan on going to more out of state events to see different competition compared to year’s past to give them a challenge.

“We’ll race Cody quite a bit. The goal is to always beat Cody,” Hildebrand said. “We’re going to start off at Billings, and we’re going to race some of the bigger schools there. We’re also going to Bozeman again, and then this year I’m taking the varsity team to Missoula to run in the Mountain West cross country invite there. There we’ll get to see some teams from Washington and Idaho as well as the Montana teams.”

She is hopeful they will see plenty of tough competition out-of-state as well as in-state, as they aim for a return to the top after two straight second place finishes after winning state in 2023.

On the boys’ side the Panthers return plenty of experience from last year as well, but lose two of their top runners while still pursuing a podium spot.

Leading the way as the top returner is senior Nathan Varian, who took 29th at state last season.

Junior Alex Werner is another hopeful returner, after he was just behind Varian last year in 30th.

Two more juniors who rejoin the lineup are Michael Stensing who took 34th as well as Channing Wenzel who was 37th.

Additional runners who Hildebrand said are hopeful to make an impact this season include senior Ben Smith, sophomore Karson Howe who has varsity racing experience as well as freshman Ryder DeBoer.

“We had a good group of boys that came over the summer,” Hildebrand said. “My goal is for them to get on that podium, we’ve been so close every year and it just hasn’t quite fallen into place. So hopefully this year we can get them on that podium at state.”

All roads lead to Cheyenne once again for a fourth consecutive season, and a third consecutive year at the Little America Golf Course.

“A lot of them know the course, and it’s a good course,” Hildebrand said. “I think they’ll be confident and they’re willing to work hard. That’s the biggest thing. I know they’re willing to put in the work.”

Starting the year the Panthers once again head north of the border, making the quick trip up to Billings on Friday afternoon.

Powell will get plenty of competition from Montana schools, and a fast course should help set the tone for the season.

“We should have a full, strong varsity girls’ team as we go to that. I think we could have a shot to win it,” Hildebrand said. “We’ll see some PRs. Even though it is the first meet of the season, it’s so flat and fast … They could pop off some good times there, and it’s a nice place to start because for kids who haven’t run before, it’s flat. It’s just a nice place for them to get a good solid time and kind of see what they are capable of at this point in the season.”