North Platte and West Platte track and field teams will be well represented at the MSHSAA Class 2 state championships after a highly successful outing at the Class 2 Sectional 4 meet held Saturday in Archie.
In total, 35 athletes from the two schools combined advanced to the state meet, set for this weekend in Jefferson City. North Platte will send 19 competitors (eight boys, 11 girls), while West Platte qualified 16 (seven boys, nine girls).
On the boys’ side, North Platte distance junior standout Drake Keraus continued his dominant postseason by sweeping the 1600-meter (4:34.33) and 3200-meter (10:18.25) runs. He also placed third in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:00.34. Teammate Bill Shaffart joined Keraus as a state qualifier in both the 1600 (4th, 4:43.33) and 3200 (4th, 11:10.91). Caleb Wright cleared 1.80 meters to win the high jump, and Coen Rainsbarger added a second-place finish in the pole vault (3.91 meters). The Panthers’ 4x100 relay also punched its ticket to state with a fourth-place finish.
West Platte sprinter August Hill earned a pair of individual state bids, placing fourth in both the 100 (11.06) and 200 (23.22) dashes. Jonah McGivern advanced in the 400 (4th, 51.93), and Alex Kinslow took second in the 300-meter hurdles (40.68). The Blue Jays’ depth showed in the relays, with the 4x100, 4x200, and 4x400 teams all claiming second-place finishes.
The North Platte girls were led by senior Lindsay Ramsey, who qualified in four events. She won the 100 (12.10), 400 (56.49), and 800 (2:24.50), and anchored the winning 4x400-meter relay. Sophomore Farrah Williams took fourth in the 200 (26.78), and the Panthers dominated the distance relays, taking first in both the 4x400 (4:10.96) and 4x800 (10:02.88). Brianna DeBord added top-four finishes in the 1600 (3rd, 5:28.92) and 3200 (3rd, 12:05.47), with teammate Chloe Heckman also qualifying in the 3200 (4th, 12:07.38).
North Platte junior Chloe Heckman, right, and West Platte sophomore Caroline Ransome, left, compete at the sectional meet on May 17. CHRIS KENDALL / Contributed Photo
Sam Baker led the West Platte girls with wins in the 200 (25.64) and a runner-up finish in the 400 (58.98). She was also part of the second-place 4x200 relay squad, which finished in a season-best 1:47.21. Hailey Peters (3rd) and Hana Hoover (4th) both advanced in the 100-meter hurdles, and sophomore Caroline Ransome took fourth in the 1600 (5:29.14).
Both schools now look ahead to the Class 2 state meet on Friday and Saturday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, with several gold medal contenders among the large group of qualifiers.
West Platte relay handoff at the sectional meet on May 17 in Archie. CHRIS KENDALL / Contributed Photo