Blake Herron received the early look at the state course and hopefully showed a hint of the possibilities for this postseason.
Despite unseasonably warm conditions, Platte County’s star senior turned in a career-best time of 15 minutes, 36.20 seconds in Saturday’s Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Missouri. He finished second in an impressive field of 221 runners at Gans Creek Cross Country Course, which continues to host the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships.
Platte County freshman Haddon Newsome runs in the Gans Creek Classic on Saturday at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia.
Herron nearly earned the first victory of his accomplished career on a visible stage, a little more than a week after he also came in as the runnerup at Platte County’s Judge “Chris” Stubbs Invitational on a slower track at Platte Ridge Park. However, Herron notably finished much faster than he did on the same course in last year’s Class 4 MSHSAA Cross Country Championships race when he turned in a 16:40.10 in sloppy muddy conditions but still finished ninth and claimed all-state honors for a second straight season.
In 2023, Herron went sub-16 minutes for the first time in his career at state, placing 23rd in 15:58.40. He set a new career-best in this year’s season-opening Tim Nixon Invitational (15:47.70) and has been in the top five of all five races this season.
Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) sophomore Aidan Morris won Saturday’s Gans Creek Gold Division race, finishing less than 2 seconds in front of Herron (15:34.60).
Platte County placed 16th out of 27 teams with a score of 407 — just two points back of Joplin in 15th. The Pirates put up the total without senior Donavin Ness, another three-time qualifier.
Landon McKinzie, a sophomore, turned in his best career time at Gans Creek in his third race, placing 65th in 17:23.00 and just missing a PR. He ran 18:02.20 in last year’s state debut, helping Platte County finish fifth as a team and just missing a second straight state trophy.
Platte County’s team score also included sophomore Tate Stone (91st, 17:43.80), freshman Haddon Newsome (142nd, personal-best 18:32.10) and junior Jacoby Keith (145th, 18:33.50). Newsome bettered his time from the Tim Nixon Invitational by more than 13 seconds, while Keith, another returning state qualifier, turned in a bounceback performance and easily his best race so far this season.
Entering nine total runners, Platte County’s other finishes were junior Nick Flowers (19:01.10), senior Elijah Jackson (19:04.90) and senior Jack Shroyer (20:12.70). Jackson also went to state each of the past two seasons but has yet to find his best form coming off a strong spring track season.
Each of Platte County’s five straight team berths to state have come in Class 4, but the Pirates face a move up to Class 5 this season, making the qualification process much more difficult this time around.
