Platte County knows the potential on this year’s roster, and the proven performers coupled with talented newcomers make strong results inevitable. The Pirates didn’t have an individual victory in Friday’s season-opening Ron Ives Invitational at Liberty High School in Liberty but did have encouraging performances.
Platte County junior Adi Benninghoff competes in the 300-meter hurdles during the Ron Ives Invitational on Friday at Liberty High School in Liberty.
In particular, Platte county junior Adi Benninghoff placed third in the 100-meter hurdles at 16.44 seconds and fifth in the 300-meter hurdles at 52.22 seconds, which marks a career best. She qualified for the Class 5 MSHSAA Track and Field Championships in the shorter of the two races and made a state debut as a sophomore and hopes to continue her progression int he 300s and push for times in the lower 50s.
Platte County freshman Addison Stone also made an impressive debut and finished third in the 200 (27.35). She also ran the anchor leg on both sprint relays and helped the Pirates’ 4×200, which also included sophomores Adi Kern, Vanessa Sarpong and Maggie Davis, place third (1:49.80).
Stone plans to split time between soccer and track this spring.
Platte County’s newcomers also include senior Maddie Nichols (fifth, 800, 2:33.65) and junior Emily Huehl (fifth, 400, 1:06.09). Both factor into the potential optimal lineups for the 4×400 and 4×800 after transferring into the district prior to this school year.
Platte County senior Maddie Nichols competes in the 800-meter run during the Ron Ives Invitational on Friday at Liberty High School in Liberty.
Nichols ended up a standout performer in the fall for Platte County’s state-qualifying cross country team, while Huehl also plays softball and basketball.
Platte County must rebuild the long-distance events after graduating a pair of all-state performers in Sisely Mitchell and Carmen Gentilia. On Friday, the Pirates used freshman Tyler Stambersky in the 3,200, and she placed fourth in a small field with a debut time of 13:04.17. She also ran cross country for the Pirates and earned all-state honors to conclude her freshman season.
Both of Platte County’s best finishes came from school-record holders in the throwing events. A two-time state qualifier, senior Addy Schlake came in second in the discus at 35.41 meters — about 6 meters off the career-best she set as a junior. Kelly Bullano, an all-state sophomore, also finished as runnerup in the javelin (38.14 meters).
Kern, whose freshman season ended at Class 5 Sectional 4, tied for fourth in the pole vault (2.59 meters).
