For the first time in school history, the boys and girls cross country teams from North Platte will run at the MSHSAA State Championships.
North Platte had a strong showing at the Class 1 District 8 meet on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Platte Ridge Park in Platte City.
“Saturday was an amazing day to be a Panther,” North Platte coach Brendan Cary said. “All these athletes have bought into the process of becoming better, doing the little things that they can control, and giving their best effort all season. It paid off with solid races on both sides. We ran strong and smart races and now we have the opportunity for one more week of growth before competing on the big stage.”
The boys won the district championship with 51 points, 10 less than Winston in the six-team field. The girls took second, three points behind St. Joseph Christian.
North Platte had three runners in the top 12 and six in the top 30.
Freshman Josh Schaffart led the way by taking sixth and teammate Danny Fleshman took eighth. Jakob Scroggins placed 12th and would’ve been a qualifier regardless of the team standings as the top 15 moves onto state.
Fleshman and Scroggins were part of a state qualifying team last year, placing 99th and 101st, respectively. Also going to state is Tyler Davis, Jace Stubbs, Gabriel Goodlet and Wes Meadows.
Davis was part of the state team last year — which took eighth overall — and took 127th.
Last fall the girls had two runners at state: Savannah Lingle and Jenna Cassity.
Both return this year but will be joined by five others as the Panthers qualified on the girls’ side for the first time since 2016.
Madi O’Neill, a state champion in track and field, took seventh for North Platte in 22:44.10.
Freshman Jessa Cassity took eighth and Jenna Cassity was 19th overall.
Between those two was Lingle and Alaina Scroggins.
Carly Hinton and Shelby Lingle will also run for North Platte at state.
Savannah Lingle, a Central Methodist signee, took 20th last year at state and Jenna Cassity took 29th, missing an all-state medal by four places.
“This group has faced challenges and achieved success and through it all, they have stuck together and kept the focus on where it needed to be, ‘How can I get better every day?’” Cary said. “They are not only excited for their own accomplishments, but are just as excited for each other and that has spurred them on to new heights. It is a special group and I know they are going to set the bar even higher as we compete at the new state course at Gans Creek in Columbia on Saturday.”
DANA ZEMBLES/Mound City News
The North Platte boys team won the Class 1 District 8 team title on Saturday, Nov. 2.