Johnson turns in fastest time in program history, wins season-opening Tim Nixon Invitational

Andrew Johnson’s collective experience created an instinct to leave no doubt.

In the closing meters of Saturday’s season-opening race at Capitol Federal Park, Platte County’s senior star found himself in all-out sprint with an invisible pack of competitors chasing him to the finish line. He expected a challenge from someone in the deep field. None materialized.

Instead, Johnson breezed to an impressive victory in a personal-best of 15 minutes, 5.60 seconds in the Tim Nixon Invitational. He obliterated his previous fastest career time from last year’s Class 4 District 4 victory when he finished in 15:53.15.

“I always try to run a race like they’re with me to the very end,” Johnson said. “This year, I’m going to focus on making sure I keep (my pace) all the way through the line and make sure they have no opportunities to pass me.”

Johnson went sub-16 minutes for the first time late last season and now has done so in four different high school races. His journey from freshman outside of the varsity lineup to perhaps the best distance runner in Platte County history continues to hit new peaks. He led the Pirates to a seventh-place finish in the Tim Nixon Invitational Gold Division standings as one of only two non-Class 5 Missouri or Kansas large class schools out of 15 teams.

District assignments will be released later this week.

Johnson has been part of Platte County’s three straight Class 4 Missouri State Cross Country Championships qualifying teams and last year ended the program’s all-state drought. In addition, Pirates senior Kade Meinke (12th, 16:04.50), sophomore Blake Herron (48th, 17:10.10), junior Tanner Jenks (53rd, 17:13.80) and sophomore Donavin Ness (65th, 17:28.90) also set personal-bests on a flat course capable of producing fast times.

The five returning state qualifiers accounted for the team total of 172 — two better than Suburban Conference White Division rival Grain Valley.

“Even more than my own personal victories, for the past couple of years we’ve been trying to get a state trophy for the team,” Johnson said. “This year, it’s looking like no matter what class we’re in, we’re going to be able to come through and be able to pull off some big PRs.”

With nearly 200 runners in the field, Johnson turned in the fourth individual victory of his career and by far the most impressive. He finished nearly 26 seconds ahead of Gold Division runnerup Isaac Rivera, a junior from Lincoln Prep, while Silver Division winner Liam Adair, a Smithville junior, was actually second across the line but still 13 seconds behind.

Johnson’s 15:05.60 marked the best time in Platte County history, obliterating the previous mark Nathan Straubel set as a senior at state in 2014 (15:50.06). Johnson now owns five of the six fastest times ever for the Pirates, while Meinke moved to No. 7 on that list and now needs to cut just 4 seconds to become the third in program history to go sub-16.

“I think (Andrew) has worked really hard,” Platte County coach Courtland Ingram said. “He’s been a great leader, and I think all of these seniors are leading together. Just like with anything else, when (Johnson) puts his energy and effort toward his team, he will continue to get better. He’s done a great job of that, so I’m not surprised at what he’s doing now because it’s been with intent for others.”

The top three went three wide into a turn near the 1.5-mile mark, and Johnson sat third as the end of third mile approached. He then began his recently familiar strategy of pushing the pace to see if others can go with him.

None could on Saturday.

Meinke finished about a minute behind his teammate, and his 16:04.50 not only marked his career-best but also shaved more than a minute off his 2022 fastest time. Herron went sub-18 for just the second time and improved his PR by 37 seconds, while Jenks (2 seconds) and Ness (17 seconds) showed more modest but notable improvements from last season.

The race allowed teams to enter up to 10 runners, giving teams a chance to better assess lineups.

Platte County junior Ben Letcher (90th, PR of 18:23.60) and sophomore Owen Bane (108th, PR of 19:20.90) didn’t factor into the scoring but were the sixth and seventh finishers. Scott Sellers, a senior looking to make a push for varsity time, placed 109th, while sophomore Elijah Jackson (112th) and Lincoln Duane (114th) rounded out the Pirates’ participants.

As evidence of the deep lineup, Letcher reached state as a sophomore and has battled back from asthma issues last year to again look like a factory in the lineup.

“They’re very tough human beings,” Ingram said. “That’s what you want. You want to see them be good teammates and be tough. I like how they’re responding.”