After having numerous participants qualify for sectionals, the Platte County Pirate track team then had several of those individuals qualify for state.
At sectionals, the Pirates faced some stiff competition, but were able to have one of their best meets of the year. A couple of school records were either broken or tied at sectionals, while several more seasonal or personal best records were set.
Seniors Mitch Black and Eli Klimek were the only Pirates to finish first in any of their events at sectionals. Black finished first in the boys’ triple jump with a distance of 43 feet and a half-inch. Klimek finished first in the 3200 meter run with a time of just 9:57.8.
Even though these two boys were the only competitors to finish first in an event for Platte County, several other boys were able to qualify for state by finishing in the top four in an event.
Sophomore Zach Ryun qualified with Klimek in the 3200 meter run. Ryun finished slightly behind Klimek in third place in that event with a time of 10:09.
Klimek also qualified for state in the boys’ 1600 meter run. Klimek finished third with a time of 4:39. This was the second of three different events that Klimek would qualify for state in.
Senior Bill Flynt had an outstanding day at sectionals as he qualified for state in three different individual events. Flynt finished third in both the 100 meter dash and the 400 meter dash for Platte County, and in addition to these, Flynt finished fourth in the 200 meter dash.
Flynt ran the 100 meter dash in a time of 11.03 seconds. Flynt then ran the 400 meter dash in a time of 51.03 seconds. Finally, Flynt ran the 200 meter dash in a time of 22.78 seconds.
Black qualified for state in the 300 meter hurdles. This was Black’s second event of the meet that he qualified for state in. Black ran the 300 meter hurdles in a time of 40.25 seconds and finished fourth. Even though Black finished fourth in this event, he was able to break the old school record of 40.7 seconds in this event, which had been set by Bobby Neill in 2001.
In addition to all of the individuals qualifying for state, the Pirates had one relay team that was able to qualify for state. Klimek, senior Shane Praiswater, junior Mark Dudley, and sophomore Zach Praiswater all qualified for state in the 4 by 800 meter relay. The team qualified with a fourth place finish in a time of 8:17.
Even though many individuals at sectionals from Platte County were able to qualify for state, there were numerous other Pirates who did not make it to state.
Junior Mike Wade finished fifth in the pole vault with a height of 13 feet. To illustrate how good the field was in this event, Wade did not qualify for state despite tying the school record in the pole vault.
The girls’ 4 by 800 meter relay team did not qualify for state despite running their best time of the season by 13 seconds. The team, which consisted of junior Jill Prather, sophomores Angela Hattesohl and Angela Scheetz, and freshman Jessica Duncan, ran the event in 10:08 and finished sixth.
Duncan also finished sixth in the girls’ 400 meter dash, despite running the best time of her career. Duncan ran the event in 62.09 and finished sixth.
Zach Praiswater was not able to qualify for state in the 800 meter run after a sixth place finish and a time of 2:05.
The boys’ 4 by 400 meter relay team, which consisted of Shane Praiswater, Flynt, Black, and Dudley, finished seventh with a time of 3:37.3.
Junior Matt Frey finished seventh in the discus despite recording his best distance of the season. Frey threw for a distance of 141 feet and 7 inches.
Dudley finished seventh in the high jump with a height of five feet and eight inches.
Those who qualified for state will next be in action on Friday, May 24 and Saturday, May 25 in Jefferson City.