BROOKVILLE — Jake Patton said his main goal at Friday's District 9 track and field championship meet was simply to advance to states.

After winning his first-ever district crown by claiming the 110-meter hurdles in 15.53 seconds however, he admitted that, “Winning feels pretty good.”

“I was hoping to run 15 (seconds) or lower in the 110s, but I will settle for this,” Patton said. “We went to a lot of invites this year and I get on MileSplit (high school track website) every once in a while, so I knew who the top competition would be.”

The 110 victory was just the first half of a banner day for Patton at Brookville's Raider Stadium. He later won the 300 hurdles, though that win came with more drama than he was hoping for.

Well ahead of the pack, his spike caught on the final hurdle, causing him to lose balance and he ended up on his back just beyond the finish line. He got up moments later, brandishing deep scratches on his side and shoulder.

The episode did not keep him from winning the event in 39.68, more than half a second faster than Keystone's Brody Coleman.

“My best time in the 300 is 39.5. I don't fall down there, I probably break it. Oh well,” he said, shrugging his shoulders.

One would never guess that Patton battles Cystic Fibrosis.

“I think about it sometimes. Recently, I've been thinking how much better I would be if I didn't have it. But a friend told me I wouldn't be as good because I wouldn't have the desire and drive to do as well.”

Other highlights from the District 9 boys meet Friday:

In one respect, Moniteau junior James Parenti came up just short in the discus throw. But that fact was overshadowed by his sense of achievement after winning the event with an effort of 158 feet.

“I was seeded first, so I wanted to win,” he said. “But I also was going for the school record, 158-1. Tom Banks set it in 1968. So I was short of that, but I was just happy to compete in a big meet against some really good competition.”

It was during his sophomore season when Parenti reached a turning point in athletics.

“We were in a meet with our rival, Karns City, and were in a tough spot,” Parenti said. “I threw the discus and won and we ended up winning the meet. That's when I started taking the event more seriously. I put more effort into it.”

Karns City's Hunter Jones knew the 400 was his best event. Now he has a trip to states to prove it.

The junior competes in several events for the Gremlins, but ran the 400 in a personal-best time of 50.74 to place second.

“I ran a 51 at the Butler invite this year,” said Jones. “That's when I started thinking that making states was a possibility for me.”

Also reaching the state meet by placing second was Moniteau's Kyle Norling in the pole vault. He reached a height of 12 feet, 6 inches.