Platte County senior Andrew Early leads the pack in the 1,600-meter run during the Liberty North Invitational on Friday in Liberty.
The opportunity for a full strength lineup in track and field season rarely exists.
Platte County took a big step forward with the return of senior Chandler Steinmeir in a windy Liberty North Invitational on Friday at Crossley Family Activity Complex in Liberty. He looked ready to contribute in the back half of the season, placing second in the 110-meter hurdles and third in the 300-meter hurdles.
While times will have to come down quickly, Steinmeir showed well in finishing behind Smithville senior Rhett Foster, winner of both races and a good pace-setter.
Platte County showed well across the board and finished with 110 points, good for third in a competitive field and two points in front of Staley. The Pirates’ lone victory came from senior Andrew Early in the 1,600 (4:48.37) with the Pittsburg State commit continuing to run incredibly consistent times in this even over the past two years. Almost all of his times have been between his personal-best of 4:43.45 a year ago in Class 4 District 8 and the time posted Friday. Andrew Johnson, a sophomore, gave Platte County a 1-2 finish, coming in as runnerup at 4:52.13, just off the career-best time he posted just over a week earlier in the Darwin Rold Invitational.
Victor Sewankambo, Platte County’s senior sprinter and jumper, continued to drive the team success. He came in second in the 100 at 11.95 and stretched out for the open 200 for the first time in his two-year career, posting a 23.72 and placing fifth.
Platte County senior Trevor Scott prepares to take a handoff from junior Nate Walls during the 4×100-meter relay in the Liberty North Invitational on Friday in Liberty.
In the 4×100 relay, Sewankambo teamed with fellow seniors Cole Rhoden and Trevor Scott and junior Nate Walls for a time of 43.91 — good for second behind Staley (43.54). Rhoden (12.23) and Scott (12.31) added fifth- and sixth-place finishes in the 100 behind Sewankambo for their best individual finishes.
Sewankambo added to his sprint work with a personal-best 6.78 meters with help from the wind, blowing past his previous mark of 6.38 from districts a year ago on his way to qualifying for state.
Platte County juniors Andrew McClure and Zay’Quan Hall also took advantage of the conditions. MClure came in fourth in the stipple jump at 13.01 meters, bettering his previous personal best by nearly a full meter. Hall was just behind in fourth at 12.82 meters, setting his PR by about 3/4 of a meter.
Those on the track also had a chance at wind aid in half of certain events, and Platte County junior Bryan Jennings set a personal-best int he 400 at 54.75, coming in sixth and missing fifth by .01 of a second.
