Platte County did not put the full allotment of entrants into the Winnetonka Invitational, knowing a tough stretch of meets required some level of caution. Still, the Pirates came away with a pair of individual victories and plenty of encouraging performances in a field of 21 teams Thursday at North Kansas City District Activities Complex in Kansas City.
Platte County senior Hannah Mand takes the baton from sophomore Haley Barlow in the 4×100-meter relay during the Winnetonka Invitational on Thursday at North Kansas City District Activities Complex in Kansas City.
Leading the way, Platte County senior Reese Pickett finished top two in both of her events, while junior Sisely Mitchell won the 800-meter run after a cautious approach to her workload due to nagging leg issues.
Pickett came out on the right side of a three-way tie for first in the high jump at 1.57 meters — her best mark this season. She ended up with the gold medal on tiebreaker criteria and then went on to place second in the long jump with a personal-best effort of 5.25 meters. This topped her mark of 5.20 meters already done twice this year.
Ironically, Pickett did not place in triple jump, taking the day off from her newest event knowing she would participate in the KU Relays over the weekend. She went to the Class 5 State Track and Field Championships as a junior in triple jump despite competing for the first time at the beginning of that season. She went on to set her personal best and just miss the school record in the KU Relays.
Field events continue to be a strength for Platte County in the early part of the season with the throwers making a noticeable push.
Platte County senior TK Lawson finished fourth in the shot put at 10.30 meters but finished well off the career-best she set the week prior (10.98). She was just 3 centimeters out of third.
Platte County sophomore Addy Schlake takes an attempt in the shot put during the Winnetonka Invitational on Thursday at North Kansas City District Activities Complex in Kansas City.
In addition, Platte County sophomore Addy Schlake placed fifth with a new PR of 33.46 meters — almost a half meter better than her previous mark of 33.02 from last year’s Class 5 District 8 meet. She also competes in shot put and high jump and has PRs this year in both of those events, as well.
Mitchell ran her first individual race of the season and won the 800 in comfortable fashion at 2 minutes, 29.20 seconds. A state qualifier in the 1,600 and 3,200 last spring before an all-state cross country season, she projects as a longer distance competitor but has limited her runs due to the leg issues to start the year.
Previously, Mitchell set a career-best in the 800 at 2:26.32 last year before mostly focusing on the mile and 2-mile for the postseason.
Platte County’s third victory came from the 4×100 relay, running out of lane six in the fast heat. The quartet of sophomore Payton Stadel, freshman Charley Sims, sophomore Haley Barlow and senior Hannah Mand ran a season-best 51.09 to beat Belton for the top spot. Barlow turned the baton over to Mand with a lead, and the newly minted anchor pulled away from there.
In addition, the 4×200 team of Mand, Barlow, Sims and freshman Evie Thrasher laced third in the 4×200 (1:51.53.).
KU Relays
Inclement weather ultimately shortened the two-day high school competition over the weekend in Lawrence, Kansas.
However, Pickett competed in the triple jump but scratched two of her three preliminary jumps in an exclusive field. Her one mark of 10.90 meters bettered her mark of 10.88 from the very first meet of her junior season and moved her within 1 centimeter of the school record Chandrika Brewton set in 2008.
Pickett ended up 15th out of 27 and did not qualify for finals.
Platte County senior Madison Hoyt hits the sand on a triple jump attempt during the Winnetonka Invitational on Thursday at North Kansas City District Activities Complex in Kansas City.
Stadel, Sims, Barlow and Mand also ran the preliminaries of the 4×100 for Platte County but turned in an off performance of 53.05, good for 61st. With the 4×400 scrapped due to the weather, the Pirates also scratched out of the 4×800.
Warrior Relays
Platte County returned to action Tuesday in Smithville with what can best be described as another split squad of top varsity performers and others building experience.
Barlow led a fourth-place team finish out of eight with a victory in the 200, while Pickett turned in another solid triple jump effort and junior Ava Filger finished second in both hurdle events. Stadel also placed second in the long jump with the Pirates best looking to utilize her skillset, which also includes the ability to run hurdles.
In the 200, Barlow just missed her PR but placed first in 28.06. She ran 28.04 in the Kearney Classic Invitational for the best time of her career.
Barlow also competed in the 100 for the first time this season and placed third at 13.89, although she was 0.31 of a second off her best mark as a freshman.
Three days after setting a PR in the triple jump at KU, Pickett went 10.87 and dominated the small field for an easy victory. No one else came with a half meter of her mark — the third-best of her career. Stadel has competed in long jump three times this year with very consistent marks, placing second this time in 4.76 meters. Her best jump of the season was 4.83 meters came in the Falcon Relays in late march, while she set a PR in fourth place in the triple jump at 9.77 meters.
Filger’s two runnerup finishes were in different circumstances. She set a season-best in the 300s at 50.24 and just missed going under 50 seconds for the third time in her career, while the mark of 17.52 in the 100s was a half second off her season-best mark of 17.02.
With only only fully stocked relay team, Platte County did finish second out of four entrants in the 4×800 with Mitchell, junior Carmen Gentilia, junior Emma Reed and sophomore Madison Palmer at 10:30.34.
