Partee, Harmon Make Strong Showing at State Track Championships

The local contingent of athletes competing at the 86th Annual MSHSAA State Track Championships wasn’t very large on Saturday, but the competitors that did advance to their respective finals enjoyed a successful day at Lincoln University’s Dwight T. Reed Stadium.

Mehlville High junior Patrick Partee, who ran against four other previous gold medal winners, including Jehu Chesson of Ladue, Aaron Mallett of McCluer North, and Chris Wright of Hazelwood Central, brought home the bronze medal in the 300 meter hurdles.

Chesson, a football star who’s headed to Michigan next fall, won the event with a time of 37.77, while Mallett took second after running 37.86.

Partee’s time of 38.42 was one of his best of the season, but still three-quarters of a second off the championship times of Chesson and Mallett.

The Lindbergh High boys 4x800 meter relay team of Kyle Pieper, Tyler Gloss, Tommy Skosky, and Ronny Jass — all juniors — took fourth in the finals of that race on Friday.

Oakville sophomore Elvir Sarajlic was the only other local boy to make the finals. He finished 15th in the 1600 meter run. 

In girls action, Lindbergh senior Jill Harmon medaled twice in the triple jump and long jump competition.

She took fourth in the triple jump final on Friday, with a leap of 38 feet and one-quarter inch. Then on Saturday, Harmon finished in sixth place with a leap of 17 feet, 5 1/2 inches.

Teammate Jordan Yanker also made the triple jump final, but foot faulted on her first two attempts, and finished in 12th place.

Oakville junior Nekole Harvey made the final of the 200 meter dash, and finished sixth in a race that was dominated by previous state champions, including Tianna Valentine of Hazelwood East, Peyton Chaney of Nerinx Hall, and Whitney Adams of Francis Howell.