West Platte sophomore Julia Pattison is returning to state.
West Platte sophomore Julia Pattison was the first runner to cross the finish line in the Class 2 District 4 Girls’ Race to qualify for state as an individual, while the North Platte girls’ cross-country team ended in second place to clinch a state berth.
For the second time in her short career, Pattison won a district title when the Blue Jay finished more than half a minute faster than the next runner, with a time of 19:50. Pattison is returning to state and is searching for an individual championship after finishing in second place last year by two seconds.
North Platte freshman Brianna DeBord shined in her first career postseason race, finishing in second place with a time of 20:25. Shelby Lingle was the next Panther to cross the finish line and 11th overall with a 22:33 time.
Jessa Cassity ended the 5K in 22:41, earning 18th place, and Alaina Scroggins finished with a time of 23:35. Lonee French ended with a time of 24:18, Audrey Buckler finished in 26:14 and Alexandra Helderman crossed the finish line with a 26:58 time.
For West Platte, Kaitlyn Reinke was the second Blue Jay to finish the race when the sophomore ended with a time of 23:45, earning 34th place. Katie Groom finished her cross-country career with a time of 26:26.
Alex Snegireva finished in 27:44, while Line Hennies and Maggie Howard ran back-to-back in 68th and 69th place. Hennies finished with a time of 28:36 and Howard ran the 5K in 28:44, while Groom Klaira crossed the finish line in 30:41.
Pattison will be the only Blue Jay who will move on to state as West Platte finished in sixth place out of 11 teams with 160 points. North Platte ended with 87 points, only losing to Summit Christian Academy with 55 points, and will return to state for the second straight season.
The Panthers finished in second place at state last fall and returned six of their top seven runners from last year, with the addition of Debord. The Class 2 State Race will be on Nov. 6 at noon in Columbia, MO.