While winter weather hasn’t fully taken over the Big Horn Basin, the Powell High School indoor track and field team has taken advantage of the warmer temperatures, getting outside on the track to practice and prepare for the quick winter season.

Coach Scott Smith said the Panthers have over 50 kids out for the team this year, and they’ve been working hard outside, gaining endurance while limiting injuries compared to past years.

“They have been working hard to start the year off,” Smith said. “It is so much better to be able to build their bases up on turf and the track than hard hallways. The kids have been developing well with less aches and pains than years’ past.”

The girls’ program returns a number of strong competitors from last year, including outdoor 400 meter state champion senior Audrey Johnson, along with state cross country champion junior Karee Cooley in the distance races alongside state placer junior Paige Sanders in long and triple jump.

Additional competitors on the team include senior Averie Warner, who placed in the 100 meters outdoor, and freshman Anyston Keller, who was an All-State cross country runner in the fall.

The boys’ team returns plenty of state medalists, including seniors Korbyn Warren and Colin Walker as well as junior Nathan Varian in the distance races, as well as juniors Breckyn Kobbe and Lincoln Crawford in the sprints.

Starting the season on Friday the Panthers will begin with one of many meets in Campbell County, heading to Gillette for the first time to a track the Panthers will visit six times including the state meet in early March.

“We are just looking to have some fun, and find out what we need to work on to improve for the rest of the season,” Smith said of the first meet.