Corbin Green went into both of his individual running finals seeded second but came up with big-time performances to highlight North Platte’s day at the Class 2 District 8 meet.
A junior, Green continued his impressive development with a pair of titles in the 100- and 200-meter runs Saturday, May 6 in Lathrop, Mo. He bested Bishop LeBlond junior Jacob Raczkowski in both of the sprint events, setting a personal best in one.
Green first ran for North Platte as a sophomore but has turned into a consistent winner as a junior. He came out of morning preliminaries behind Raczkowski in both events but bettered his mark in the finals.
In the 100, Green turned in an 11.18 — just 0.14 off of his season best — to beat Raczkowski by .02 of a second in a photo finish. Green broke the 23-second mark in his 200 preliminary with a 22.86, but in the final, he went 22.76 to again beat Raczkowski by .02 of a second in another bang-bang finish.
Green ended up earning both of North Platte’s individual berths in Class 2 Sectional 4, scheduled for Saturday, May 13 at William Chrisman High School in Independence, Mo. He also ran on the only relay to advance in the postseason.
North Platte’s team of Caleb Crumley, William Morse, Van French and Green — all juniors — came in second to Hamilton in the 4x400. The Hornets won in 3:36.25, while North Platte was at 3:42.46.
Last year, North Platte didn’t have a state qualifier but will look to break back through after finishing sixth out of 11 teams in the District 8 standings. The Panthers’ 4x400 made sectionals last year but did not advance.
North Platte’s girls did not have a relay advance out of districts after sending all four to sectionals in 2016 with three of those going on to state.
McKenna Fulton, a junior, will compete at Sectional 4 in the 300 hurdles for a second straight year. She enters this season as a district champion after posting a 51.15 in the finals Saturday, beating Hamilton sophomore Hailyn Park by about a half second.
Last year, Fulton finished sixth at sectionals with a 52.80 while also running in three relays that day.
Bailee Romaker, another junior, gave North Platte two sectional qualifiers in the hurdles. She posted the No. 6 qualifying time in the 100 hurdle prelims Saturday but then shaved .40 of a second off that time in the finals, finishing fourth in 17.35 to earn the final spot in next week’s meet.
Romaker will run at sectionals for the first time in her career this weekend.