Jays, Panthers sending both teams to State

Local schools dominated at the Class 2 District 4 Championships on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Platte Ridge Park, with West Platte and North Platte sending both of their teams to the Class 2 State Championships this Saturday, Nov. 9, at Gans Creek in Columbia.

The Panthers won the guys’ Class 2 District 4 Championships by six points over the West Platte guys’ team. The Panthers were led by junior Drake Keraus, who finished fourth with a time of 17:23.31, followed by West Platte junior Noah Rees, who finished eighth with a time of 18:17.94. West Platte freshman Charles Trease finished ninth with a time of 18:21.56, while North Platte freshman Bill Schaffart finished 10th with a time of 18:22.12.

West Platte senior Jonah McGivern finished 12th with a time of 18:37.35, followed by North Platte junior Hunter Palmer, who finished 15th with a time of 18:45.5; West Platte freshman Sam Miller, who finished 17th with a time of 18:48.05; North Platte freshman Trey Heckman who finished 19th with a time of 18:57.6; North Platte sophomore Devin Navarro with a time of 19:56.78; West Platte senior Thomas Deffet with a time of 20:23.84; West Platte sophomore Wyatt Larsen with a time of 20:48.34; North Platte junior Galen Christiansen with a time of 25:36.64; and North Platte freshman Farris French with a time of 29:03.81.

On the girls’ side, the Jays finished second as a team by 21 points over third-place North Platte.  The Panthers had two ladies finish in the Top 5, led by junior Chloe Heckman, who finished runner-up with a time of 19:58.31, followed by senior Brianna DeBord, who finished fourth with a time of 20:19.05. North Platte sophomore Annabell DeBord finished 21st with a time of 22:36.01.

West Platte had six runners finish in the Top 25, led by sophomore Hana Hoover, who finished 13th with a time of 22:14.75, followed by junior Payton Reber, who finished 19th with a time of 22:35.04; junior Addison Bailey, who finished 20th with a time of 22:35.05; sophomore Caroline Ransome who finished 22nd with a time of 22:37.14; freshman Katherine Carletti who finished 23rd with a time of 22:46.29; and freshman Jersey O’Neal who finished 24th with a time of 22:50.87.

North Platte freshman Farrah Williams finished with a time of 25:29.33, followed by junior Graci Williams with a time of 25:29.45 and junior Lily Schaffart with a time of 30:01.99.