Squaring off against accomplished St. Louis-area schools like Lutheran North High made for a rugged path to the Class 2A state track and field meet for local teams.

But 15 athletes from Kelly, Scott City and Chaffee placed in the top two in their events Saturday in the district meet and will be among 16 competitors in each event Friday and Saturday in the state meet in Jefferson City.

Kelly will take the largest contingent -- six boys and three girls. Scott City advanced three boys and a girl and Chaffee two boys.

Oran will be represented by three boys in the Class 1A meet, also Friday and Saturday.

Kelly likely is the only team with an athlete or relay team that could vie for a state title. The Hawks' hopes rest on their boys 4x800 relay team and on Nathen King.

The 4x800 team of Lucas Choate, Jobi Berry, C.O. Scheffer and King placed third last season. All four runners are seniors and are returning to the state meet after winning the district title. The team's season-best time is 8:25; it ran 8:27.5 in the district meet and won unchallenged.

Kelly has placed at least eighth in the 4x800 every year since 1994.

"We have a tradition in that event," said Kelly coach Bill Davis. "We're capable of winning it. It depends on things like the handoff and running at an optimal level, but they have an excellent shot."

King will also compete in the 800- and 1600-meter runs. King, who won the 800 district title, placed fifth in the state meet in the 800 last season.

Kelly junior Jenny Riley, the district winner in the 1600, placed fifth in the event last season, but her times have been slower this season. Other Kelly qualifiers are senior James Brainer (shot put), junior Logan Kirk (discus), junior Tabitha Shankle (800) and junior Melissa Garner (3200).

Scott City will take senior pole vaulters Dale Burger and Taylor Goodale, senior triple jumper Lance Amick and freshman pole vaulter Dana Essner.

Scott City coach Terry Flannigan said that Burger and Goodale "both have another foot or two in them" in the pole vault. Burger, who qualified for the state meet last season, cleared 10 feet 6 inches and Goodale 9-6 in the district meet. Flannigan said they need to reach 11 feet to place.

Flannigan said Essner has only been practicing the pole vault for three weeks. This season is the first in which girls can compete in the state meet in the pole vault.

Chaffee's two qualifiers -- junior shot putter Andy Obermann and senior high jumper Andy Proffer -- both competed in the state meet last season. Obermann, who won the district championship, placed ninth and Proffer took eighth.

Chaffee coach Terry Glenzy said if the two can approach their season-best marks -- 49 feet for Obermann and 6-4 for Proffer -- they should earn all-state honors.

Oran took only five athletes to its district meet and three advanced. Senior Nathan Holmes will run both the 1600 and the 3200, senior Jared Hamm will compete in the discus and Russ Hatfield will run the 400.

Holmes was the district winner in both events, as was Hamm in his. Holmes, who placed sixth in the 3200 in the state meet last season, has consistently run under 10:50, but coach Tom Sellers said he will need to shave the time to under 10:30 to challenge for the state title.