Prairie City's Haley Pfefferkorn competes in javelin at Saturday's home meet.

Prairie City’s Levi Burke earned second place in high jump in his first time competing in the event at the Panthers’ invitational Friday.

It was Burke’s second track meet ever, and head coach Nate Barber said he expects Burke to continue to improve.

“He already has one of the best marks in the state at 5-10,” Barber said, adding he expects Burke could eventually reach over 6 feet.

Burke said he’s enjoying the sport.

“I like the individual basis, and it’s something you have to have a good technique,” he said.

Prairie City hosted eight 1A teams and one 4A team, the Baker City Bulldogs. The Baker boys won with 206.5 points, followed by Powder Valley with 76.5. Crane and Joseph tied at 73 for third. Prairie City placed sixth with 43, and Long Creek placed ninth with 25.

The Baker girls won with 210, followed by Joseph with 98 and Crane with 77. Prairie City placed sixth with 42, and Long Creek placed eighth with 20.

Long Creek coach Linda Studtmann said all but two of her team members are new to the sport, either as freshmen or foreign exchange students.

“I think they did very well,” she said. “We saw improvement in several of the athletes and most (set personal records) in at least one of their events. They’re observing as well and trying to figure out things they need to change to improve even more, so that’s encouraging to see.”

Prairie City’s Haley Pfefferkorn, who placed second in javelin behind a Baker thrower, said it was a good meet, for their second outing.

“I think, individually, everyone did pretty well,” she said of her team.

She thinks they’ll show improvement by their next home meet, scheduled for Thursday, May 3.

Coach Barber said Hailee Wall and Deja Amsden both ran the hurdles well.

“Their timing is getting better,” he said.

“Samantha Workman did really well in the pole vault,” he added. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a girl compete, and it’s nice to have coach Joe Hitz out to help.”

“There were a lot of PRs (personal records) set today,” said Rilee Emmel. “It’s nice to have a home track meet.”

Wall agreed.

“It was a nice day for a track meet and good competition,” she said. “They really made us push ourselves.”

Prairie City boys

Levi Burke: high jump, second, 5-10

Danner Davis: shot put, sixth, 33-05

Jake McHatton: shot put, seventh, 32-09

Jonathan Lawrence: 1500, fourth, 5:18.88

4×100: Prairie City, fifth, 49.05, Brandon Horrell, Jonathan Haskins, Tristan McMahan and Levi Burke

Tristan McMahan: triple jump, fifth, 35-07

Prairie City girls

Samantha Workman: pole vault, second, 6-06; long jump, fourth, 12-08.5; triple jump, fourth, 28-09

Hailee Wall: 100 hurdles, fourth, 21-70

Deja Amsden: 100 hurdles, eighth, 23-35; triple jump, sixth, 28-09

Haley Pfefferkorn: javelin, second, 101-10.5

Abbey Pfefferkorn: 100, sixth, 14.67; 200, sixth, 31.35

Long Creek boys

4×100: Long Creek, fourth, 48.51, Jaime Ballesteros, Luka Pesic, Kim Donggyu and Rafael Gumerato

James Kreamier: high jump, sixth, 5-04

Luka Pesic: javelin, fourth, 117-10.5; high jump, 11th, 5-0

Long Creek girls

Lucchese Douglas: 400, third, 1:12; discus, fifth, 69-02.75

Dorotha Johnson: long jump, third, 13-00.5; high jump, sixth, 3-0.5