Platte County senior Blake Herron runs in the Judge “Chris” Stubbs Invitational on Thursday at Platte Ridge Park.
Platte County seniors Blake Herron and Donavin Ness ended up with vastly different memorable experiences in Thursday morning’s Judge “Chris” Stubbs Invitational at Platte Ridge Park. Herron lost the lead late and came agonizingly close to the first victory of his career, while Ness placed fifth, setting a PR and going under 17 minutes for the second time. They combined to lead the Pirates to the team title, a third straight in their home meet.
One of just five runners in program history to go under 16 minutes, Herron opened a big advantage in the early part of the race, but Pembroke Hill senior Henry Pickert passed him near the four-kilometer mark and held on for the win in 16 minutes, 34.8 seconds. Herron posted a fourth top-five finish of the season in 16:38.1, nearly a minute off the career-best he set in this year’s season-opening Tim Nixon Invitational.
Part of a breakaway top five, Ness closed strong and came in fourth at 16:55.5 — less than a second better than the previous PR of 16:56.42 from last season’s Suburban Conference White Division Championships.
Pembroke Hill ended up with runners in first and third, but Platte County’s point total of 58 bettered Park Hill South (65) and Park Hill (91). The Pirates’ score also included sophomores Landon McKinzie (13th, 18:21.3) and Tate Stone (17th, 18:31.8) and junior Nick Flowers (22nd, 18:48.5).
Platte County sophomore Landon McKinzie runs in the Judge “Chris” Stubbs Invitational on Thursday at Platte Ridge Park.
Pembroke Hill ended up fourth with a team score of 111.
Last season, excessive heat forced the cancelation of the Chris Stubbs Invitational, but Platte County also won the team title in 2022 and 2023. Two years ago, Herron finished ninth and Ness 12th in their home meet then improved on those showing in a final home race, which started with a light rain that dissipated as runners hit the closing stretches.
Platte County moved the rare mid-week race to the morning but still almost dealt with inclement weather but avoided any lightning delays. However, the Pirates were without senior Elijah Jackson due to a school conflict, and freshman Haddon Newsome (40th, 19:52.9) and junior Zarren Moore (52nd, 20:40.7) rounded out the lineup.
In total, Platte County’s roster includes five runners with prior state experience, including three-time Class 4 MSHSAA Cross Country Championships qualifiers in Herron and Ness. Jackson ran in each of the past two postseasons, while McKinzie and junior Jacoby Keith made debuts last season. The Pirates finished as state runnerup in 2023 and then just missed a second straight team trophy a year ago.
Platte County faces a move up to Class 5 District 8, increasing the difficulty level for the postseason.
