Park Hill junior Brooke Boehm claimed second place in the long jump at the Class 5 Sectional 4 Track and Field Meet at Staley High School on May 20 to earn a trip back to state.
Multiple athletes from Platte County, Park Hill and Park Hill South punched their tickets to state after impressive outings at the Class 5 Sectional 4 Track and Field Meet at Staley High School on May 20.
The Platte County girls’ 4x800-meter relay team just made the cut, taking fourth place with a time of 9:51.65. The team was made up of Sisely Mitchell, Addie Ayers, Carmen Gentilia and Madison Palmer.
Reese Pickett showed up when it mattered the most, qualifying in all three jumping events. The senior earned a bronze medal in the long jump and triple jump, along with a fourth-place finish in the high jump.
In the sand pits, Pickett had a 17-04.25-foot leap in the long jump and a 35-06-foot hop in the triple jump. She went on to clear the 5-01-foot-high jump bar.
Addyson Schlake and TaKayla Lawson held down the fort in the throwing events, both qualifying for state. Schlake earned third place with a 120-09-foot throw in the discus and Lawson took fourth place in the shot put with a 36-02-foot throw.
For the Platte County boys, Andrew Johnson won the 3,200-meter run with a time of 9:18.79 – not only was this school record, but also a PR by 19 seconds and 1.11 seconds faster than the next runner. The Pirates’ 4x400-meter relay team of Josh Fraker, Brayden Eschliman, Aaron Cordova and Jackson Goodale took third place in 3:21.62, which set a program record.
As expected, Park Hill South senior Judy Elful will be back at state in both hurdle events. The senior won the 100 in 14.74 seconds and was the runner-up in the 300 in 46.32 seconds.
Lauren Smith was the only other Park Hill South athlete to be a sectional champion, winning the pole vault. The sophomore cleared a height of 9-11.75 feet.
Isabella Patton’s career isn’t quite over yet as the senior took fourth place in the discus. Patton had a 119-09-foot throw at sectionals.
Madilynn Conklin continues to impress in her freshman campaign, being the second 1,600-meter runner to cross the finish line when she did so in 5:16.53. Conklin was also on the third place 4x800-meter relay team that ended in 9:44.04.
Thomas Garrett is another Park Hill South freshman long-distance runner who made it to state, breaking the program and Missouri freshman record in the 3,200-meter run. A time of 9:23.02 gave him a fourth-place finish and was the ninth fastest time among all freshmen in the country.
Shane Smith earned a bronze medal in the 400-meter dash, crossing the finish line in 49.25 seconds. Smith will also be competing at state in the 4x200-meter relay as the Panthers took third place in 1:27.59.
Zeshaun Balance-Gray hopped 44-03.5 feet in the triple jump to take third place. T.J. McGhee pole vaulted 13-09-feet, earning second place.
Alyssa Ball has been one of the best sprinters in the area this season, moving on to state in a pair of individual races. The Park Hill senior claimed fourth place in the 100-meter dash in 12.4 seconds and third place in the 200-meter dash in 25.4 seconds.
Mackenzie Moretina was the runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles – only trailing Elful – in 15.33 seconds. The Lady Trojans’ 4x100-meter relay team of Jamari Ervin, Cali Richards, Ball and Moretina finished in 49.24 seconds, which was good enough for third place and a trip to Jefferson City.
Brooke Boehm will be back at state in the long jump after leaping 17-08.25 feet and earning a silver medal. Grace Hodge claimed second place in the pole vault, clearing the 9-11.75-foot bar.
The Park Hill boys won’t have any runners at state, coming close in its three relays but ultimately falling outside of the top-4. The Trojans took fifth place in the 4x100 and sixth places in the 4x200 and 4x400.
Park Hill once again killed it in the high jump, placing three of the top-4 at sectionals. Desire Tonye-Nyemeck and Kendrick Bell both cleared the 6-07.5-foot bar.
Tonye-Nyemeck came away with the gold medal and Bell took the silver medal. Legend Freelon was the final state qualifier after jumping 6-03.5 feet.
Jordan Rider advanced in the javelin as a 175-07-foot throw was good enough for second place. Jordan Smith took fifth place in the event with a toss of 172-05-feet, which was 1-02 feet short of state qualification.
The Class 5 State Meet will take place over two days at Jefferson City High School. The meet will begin on May 26 and come to a close on May 27.