Platte County senior Donavin Ness runs in the Tim Nixon Invitational on Saturday at Capitol Federal Park in Liberty.
Blake Herron continues to traverse the path of progression and development commonplace in recent years for Platte County’s top runners. On Saturday, the Pirates star returning senior negotiated the course at Liberty’s Capitol Federal Park in a personal-best of 15 minutes, 47.70 seconds — now the ninth-fastest time in program history — to finish fourth in the season-opening Tim Nixon Invitational.
All eight of those in front of hime were posted in the past two seasons — seven from school-record holder Andrew Johnson and one from Kade Meinke.
Herron finished fourth, passing two runners in the final stretch, to lead Platte County’s sixth-place team finish in the Gold Division, which included 11 schools. The Pirates’ team total of 167 ended up just five back of Liberty and came with three returning state qualifiers factoring in the score plus sophomore Tate Stone (48th, 17:35.80) and junior Nick Flowers (60th, 17:51.10).
Like Herron, Platte County senior Donavin Ness has been part of the last three full-team state berths to the Class 4 MSHSAA Cross Country Championships, and he placed 34th in 17:01.80, just missing a second career time under 17 minutes. Herron plus sophomore Landon McKinzie (39th, 17:20.90), Stone and Flowers all set career-best times.
Platte County sophomore Landon McKinzie and junior Nick Flowers run back-to-back Saturday in the Tim Nixon Invitational at Capitol Federal Park in Liberty.
Herron, a two-time all-state finisher, and Ness were part of Platte County’s record-setting team that finished second in state two years ago, while also running with McKinzie and two others in Saturday’s 10-runner lineup that were part of a fifth-place showing last season — senior Elijah Jackson and junior Jacoby Keith. Jackson posted the No. 6 time for the Pirates but lost his electronic timing chip during the race and does not have an official time posted at this point.
Similarly, Jackson did the same at last year’s Suburban Conference White Division Championships with a video review changing his final placement and eventually giving Platte County the team title.
Platte County freshman Haddon Newsome debuted with an 86th-place finishing (18:46.70) with junior Zarren Moore right behind (87th, career-best 19:06.80). Keith (92nd, 19:27.40) and junior Alex Miller (95th, career-best 19:51.00) rounded out the Pirates’ lineup in the first race of the season.
Despite returning five previous state qualifiers, Platte County likely faces a more difficult postseason route with an expected move up to Class 5. The Pirates went into the fall hoping to have junior Jackson Townsend, a transfer from Glendale, as a potential contributor, but he’s out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his femur.
