{gallery}03_26_09/track{/gallery} Members of the Powell High School track team conduct conditioning and warm-up drills before the start of Tuesday's practice. The Panthers open the 2009 track season on Saturday when they travel to Cody for an invitational meet. Tribune photo by Randal Horobik With a dozen state place winners returning, the Powell High School track program and head coach Scott Smith have plenty of reason for optimism as the Panthers prepare to open the 2009 season on Saturday. The team will compete in a track invitational at Cody. “We are a little slow starting this year because of the success of the basketball teams, but that will translate into great things later in the season,” Smith said.

Truth be told, there are probably several coaches across Wyoming who would gladly trade places with Smith. The Panthers return 18 letterwinners from a team that placed third in the state last year. The Panther girls bring back nine letterwinners from a team that brought home regional runner-up honors to give both Panther squads a solid nucleus.

“We are blessed to have great leadership this year with our senior boys and junior girls,” said Smith. “These are all awesome kids who have shown their ability to lead for us in the past, as well as in other sports this year.”

On the boys' side, senior Rustin Myrick is back after scoring points for the Panthers in four events at the 2008 state championships. Myrick was a top-six finisher in both the 110 and 300-meter hurdles. He also scored a fourth-place finish in the high jump and ran a leg on the Panthers' 4x400 relay that placed seventh.

If the indoor track season is any indication, that could be just the tip of the iceberg this year. Myrick surpassed the previous school indoor record in the high jump, only to watch sophomore teammate Kyle Sullivan — also a returning state place winner — soar even higher. Both Panthers also tallied points in the 55-meter hurdles at state.

Other returning multi-event placewinners from last year's state squad include seniors Gavin Mills (200, 400 and 4x400 relay) and Patrick Sullivan (400, 4x400 and 4x800). Seniors Matthew McArthur (shot put) and Dallas Robirds (4x800) also tallied points at state last season for the Panther boys.

On the girls' side, junior Hannah Pollart is back after logging a pair of top-five finishes at the ‘08 state championships, where the Panthers placed 15th overall. Pollart placed third in the high jump and is one of three members back from a 4x400 relay unit that placed fifth overall.

Junior Kami Cooley and sophomore Kassey MacDonald also return from that relay unit.

Sophomore Stephanie Paul is back as the Panthers' lone returning regional champion. Paul brought home the regional title at 200 meters and added a sixth-place state finish in the 4x100 relay. Like other members of the Panthers' roster, Paul participated in track's indoor season this winter, breaking school records at the 55, 200 and 400-meter distances.

The Panthers also return half of their 4x800 relay squad that placed sixth at the state meet. Junior Skye Albert and sophomore Claire Wetzel will line up to carry the baton once more. They could be joined by freshmen Desiree Murray and Alyssa Rodriguez, both of whom earned all-state honors in cross country last fall, in scoring points for PHS in various distance events.

“I am really excited about our freshman group this year, both boys and girls,” said Smith. “There are numerous boys and girls that look to have an immediate impact on our team, as well as some who will be building for the near future.”

The Panthers' track season gets started at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday in Cody. The team will also see action on Thursday, April 2, at Worland.