Andrew Johnson crested the first hill squarely in the middle of a large pack in the second annual Judge “Chris” Stubbs Invitational.
Platte County junior Kade Meinke runs during the Judge “Chris” Stubbs Invitational on Thursday at Platte Ridge Park.
Up to the challenge, Platte County’s junior No. 1 found himself in a one-on-one race with West Platte senior star Charlie Kinslow through the switchbacks of the course at Platte Ridge Park. The friendly rivals battled back and forth before Kinslow pulled away for the win in a blistering 16 minutes, 48.90 seconds.
Johnson placed second in 16:55.20 — nearly a minute better than his surprise third-place time in the same race a year earlier.
“Charlie’s a great runner. If he outruns me, it’s because he earned it,” Johnson said. “I feel like we’re going to have other races in the future where it’s going to be close, and it’s just going to be whoever wants it more.
“Rivalries are a great thing, but me and Charlie feel like we’re great friends and can push through a race and have fun with it.”
Platte County still came away with the team championship of its home race thanks to Johnson, sixth-place junior Kade Meinke (18:21.20) and the bunched finish of senior Kage Audas (19th, 19:00.50), sophomore Tanner Jenks (20th, 19:02.80) and freshman Blake Herron (25th, 19:27.20).
Platte County senior Kage Audas runs in the Judge “Chris” Stubbs Invitational on Thursday at Platte Ridge Park.
The top five for Platte County totaled 69 team points, beating Chillicothe by nine, while Kinslow paced third-place West Platte nearly 40 back. There were 115 runners and 15 full teams.
Johnson planned his race but questioned the strategy a bit when he started so far back. However, his fears were short-lived when he pulled away with Kinslow from Chillicothe freshman Luke Thompson, who finished third more than a full minute behind Kinslow.
“To be honest, I wasn’t a hundred percent sure,” Johnson said. “I had a slow start. That was planned, but I don’t know. I thought after I get into the woods I should surge, and that’s what I did.”
Johnson entered this season as the expected No. 1 following the graduation of star Andrew Early, who ran his first 8k race at Pittsburg State on Saturday, and Jace Trimble.
A year earlier, Johnson ended up the top finisher in the home race for Platte County when Early suffered an asthma attack and came off the course without finishing. That led to a somber post-race meeting between runners with no real celebration of an otherwise standout day — a lesson Johnson took with him into his current leadership role.
“We were definitely thinking about that this morning,” Johnson said. “You know, things like that happen to everyone, and eventually, it might happen to me so we just have to be prepared for anyone to take up the mantle.”
Platte County sophomore Tanner Jenks runs in the Judge “Chris” Stubbs Invitational on Thursday at Platte Ridge Park.
Platte County seemingly has the pieces in place behind Johnson for another team push this season. The Pirates have qualified for the Class 4 Missouri State Cross Country Championships each of the past two seasons and have eyes on a third straight trip.
Johnson went from off the radar to varsity contributor as a freshman and standout as a sophomore. Audas also has state experience, as does Meinke with sophomore Ben Letcher another returner who wasn’t in the lineup Thursday.
Jenks and the freshmen due of Herron and Donavin Ness (28th, 19:38:00) have provided big boosts, while senior Tanner Johnson currently has the top spot on junior varsity after being in the top seven and a state runner last year. Even senior Aspen Nelson (19:41.20) has significant varsity experience despite not being a postseason factor in recent years.
Platte County senior Aspyn Nelson runs in the Judge “Chris” Stubbs Invitational on Thursday at Platte Ridge Park.
Meinke in particular has made a notable leap after coming out for the team as a sophomore and quickly becoming a key member of the lineup and now making a leap similar to what Johnson did between his freshman and sophomore seasons.
“Kade joined us when he was a sophomore, and he kind of came out of nowhere,” Johnson said. “And he’s been a great addition to the team.”
Raymore-Peculiar Invitational
Johnson just missed making it 3-for-3 going sub-17 minutes while placing seventh in the large division of the Raymore-Peculiar Invitational in Peculiar, Mo.
Platte County placed fifth out of just nine teams in the final overall standings with Meinke adding a medalist showing in 17:32.40 — good for 19th in a field of 72. He was just 15 seconds off the PR he set to open the season at the Tim Nixon Invitational, which produced myriad low times for runners in the field.
Audas (36th, 18:22.30) and Jenks (37th, 18.22.50) essentially posted a photo finish as Platte County’s Nos. 3 and 4 runners on the day, and Ness rounded out the team score in 51st. The Pirates were again extremely balanced with senior Aspyn Nelson just one spot behind Ness, while Herron came in 56th.
Johnson has been sub-17 minutes in the season-opening Tim Nixon Invitational in addition to the Stubbs Invitational.
