With limited individual long-distance races, Platte County sophomore Tyler Stambersky went to the straight mile and posted a solid second-place showing.
Instead of the normal 1,600-meter race, the Falcon Relays uses the even imperial measurement and then an increased assortment of relays. Stambersky finished in 5 minutes, 54.00 seconds Thursday at North Kansas City District Activities Complex to come in as the runnerup behind Staley senior Audrey Richter (5:24.29).
Stambersky also again ran a leg on Platte County’s rebuilding 4×800-meter relay looking for a return to state qualifying form. She teamed with seniors Addie Ayers and Emily Huehl plus freshman Carlie Baker to run 10:30.42. The Pirates were a distant second to Kearney (10:11.28) and just off this year’s season-best from the prior week’s Ron Ives Invitational.
In that race, Huehl did not run, but senior Madelyn Stewart helped Platte County post a 10:27.21.
Ayers and Huehl are the lone returners from a 4×800 that reached the Class 5 Sectional 4 race last year but came up short of state. Ayers is a two-time qualifier for the Class 5 MSHSAA Track and Field Championships in the event and a 2024 medalist.
In addition to the 4×800, Platte County’s team of Ayers, Huehl, junior Elise Lundholm and senior Joanna Reil also placed second behind Kearney in the non-traditional distance medley relay. That included legs of 1,200, 400, 800 and 1,600 meters.
Platte County junior Maggie Wagner finished fourth in the 300-meter hurdles at 51.29 but remained off of her PR of 49.50 from last season’s Suburban Conference White Division Championships. Her best finish on Thursday came in the long jump (second, 4.73 meters).
Platte County junior Kelly Bullano — one of two returning individual state qualifiers on the roster — added a second-place showing in the javelin at 32.51 meters, while senior Malin Cole followed in fourth at 29.76 meters. Rylee Dishman, a freshman, also claimed fourth in the triple jump (9.55 meters), and sophomore Millie Parker came in fifth in the shot put (9.55 meters).
Depth showed for Platte County in a fourth-place team finish. The Pirates totaled 68 1/2 points and were just 16 behind team champion Staley.
