Platte County’s boys track and field team claimed the Class 5 District 8 championship Saturday at Staley High School, edging out Liberty by just three points in a tightly contested meet that sent dozens of local athletes to sectionals.
Fueled by depth across sprints, distance, relays and field events, the Pirates posted 114 points to capture the team title — their first district crown at the Class 5 level. Platte County qualified 13 boys and 5 girls for this weekend’s sectional meet.
Pirate senior Joshua Fraker led the way with a district title in the 400-meter dash (49.48) and a third-place finish in the 800 (1:58.76). He also helped anchor Platte County’s district champion 4x400-meter relay, which clocked a blistering 3:19.45.
Platte County senior Joshua Fraker in his come-from-behind bid for his district championship on May 17.
Junior Braiden Stevens continued his standout season with a second-place finish in the 100-meter dash (10.48), setting a school record just ahead of teammate Adam Gisler (3rd, 10.72). Ty Christopher (2nd, 22.09) advanced in the 200, while Jackson Goodale joined Fraker in qualifying in the 400 (4th, 50.56).
Distance runner Blake Herron finished third in the 3200 (9:36.93), and the Pirates also advanced in all three sprint relays, taking second in the 4x100, third in the 4x200, and fourth in the 4x800. In the field events, Cale Buntz (3rd, javelin, 51.97) set a new school record and Kyler Parker (3rd, shot put, 14.86) also punched a ticket to sectionals.
Park Hill and Park Hill South also produced strong showings, with Park Hill South boys qualifying eight athletes and Park Hill advancing five. South’s Thomas Garrett was a double district champion in the 800 (1:57.45) and 1600 (4:21.22), while Simon Ketter added a second-place finish in the 3200 (9:36.49). In the field, Logan Hild (2nd, pole vault) and Carter Zehr (2nd, javelin) also moved on.
Park Hill South junior pole vaulter Logan Hild at the district meet on May 17.
Park Hill’s Braylon Agee qualified in the 110 hurdles (3rd), while Fedrick Marshall Jr. (3rd) and Owen Koski (4th) both advanced in the long jump. The Trojan boys narrowly missed qualifying in the 4x400 but ran a season-best 3:20.74.
On the girls side, Park Hill South’s Madilynn Conklin won the 1600 (5:17.99) and also placed third in the 800 (2:18.97). Teammate LaNicia Parker advanced in the 300 hurdles (2nd) and long jump (2nd), while the Panthers’ Audrey Steitz (2nd) and Eva Salvi (3rd) qualified in the triple jump behind Park Hill’s Nikyah Chappell, who won with an 11.28-meter mark as a freshman.
Platte County’s Adi Benninghoff placed second in the 100-meter hurdles (15.06), and Addyson Schlake advanced in both the high jump (4th) and discus (2nd). The Pirates also qualified their girls 4x800 relay (2nd) and Kelly Bullano (2nd, javelin).
Platte County senior Addyson Schlake at the district meet on May 17
In total, 46 athletes across the three programs are headed to next weekend’s Class 5 Sectional 4 meet in Blue Springs with state berths on the line.