PLATTE CITY – All school year long, Platte County has thrived in several sports and now its top athletes will get a chance to showcase their speed and skills on the track and field.
Seniors Andrew Johnson, Sisely Mitchell and Carmen Gentilia had strong cross-country seasons and will look to continue that on the track in the long-distance events. Mitchell and Gentilia were on the 13th place 4x800 – along with junior Madison Palmer and sophomore Addison Ayers – at state last year and Johnson was an all-state 3,200-meter runner.
Platte County seniors Sisely Mitchell and Carmen Gentilia run close together in the mile at a track meet last season.
Ayers is the only underclassmen that has state experience but there’s some younger athletes that are looking to make jumps in competition this season. Sophomores Quinn Lightle, Cale Buntz, Adi Benninghoff and Rylee Carr, along with freshman Adi Kern, and are names to look out for.
“We have a good mix of older more experienced athletes as well as some up and coming younger athletes,” Platte County head track and field coach Jerod Smith said. “We also have a good mix of talent in most, if not, all event areas.”
The only Pirate who qualified to state in a field event a season ago was Addyson Schlake in the discus. She took 12th place at the biggest stage to close out her sophomore campaign.
The Platte County boys bring back three of their four legs in the state qualifying 4x400. Junior sprinters Brayden Eschliman, Jackson Goodale and Joshua Fraker are looking for another teammate to fill out the relay.
“We have around 170 athletes out for track and field this season. Our first two weeks of practice have been filled with great weather and a lot of hard work out of all of our athletes,” Smith said.