Platte County sophomore Alex Yurko swims in the 100-yard butterfly Tuesday during a meet in Raytown. DANIEL BENITEZ/Special to PC Preps Extra

Platte County continues development, looking to maximize postseason success

In addition to 5 returning state qualifiers, Pirates seeing increased contributions from Anderson, Yurko, Howe during 2 most recent competitions.

The development continues to show in breadcrumbs throughout the schedule across each competition.

On Tuesday in Raytown, Platte County senior Sarah Howe recorded a victory in the 500-yard freestyle during a seven-team meet while junior Erin Anderson and sophomore Alex Yurko were on the first-place 400-yard freestyle team. The Pirates won three events total and outpointed each of the other six teams in scores broken down into individual matchups.

Platte County senior Chloe Pegler also won the 50-yard freestyle in 28.70, leading a 1-2-3 finish of teammates also including senior Ireland Shank (29.06) and sophomore Lillian Talbot, a first-year member of the team. Pegler and Shank are among a group of five for the Pirates with prior state experience from last year’s Class 1 MSHSAA Swimming and Diving Championships.

However, Platte County continues to test additional contributors with a chance to factor into three currently state-bound relays with others looking for an opportunity.

Count Howe in that contingent after she posted a season-best of 6:56.75 in the 500 freestyle to earn a win in Raytown. The Pirates also received runnerup finishes from sophomores Mackenzie Johnson (200 IM, 2:26.95 and 100 freestyle, 1:00.82) and Ronnie Benford (200 freestyle, 2:32.59) along with Shank (100 breaststroke, 1:20.94). All three have prior state experience with Shank a qualifier each of her first three seasons.

Johnson posted a pair of season-bests in her events and lowered her state consideration cut in the 200 IM, moving to No. 46 on the Class 1 list. The top 32 in each event qualify, but with swimmers limited to a maximum of two individual events, postseason choices can allow those outside the original cut line to make the field.

Benford finished in front of Howe (2:33.62) in the 200 freestyle with Platte County claiming two of the top three spots in the race.

Platte County’s relay victory included Johnson, Benford, Anderson and Yurko in a unique combination with junior Ashleigh Cruce, another returning state qualifier, out of action in th meet. The quartet finished in 4:15.07, a little more than 2 seconds off the current consideration cut for the Pirates.

In addition, Platte County’s 200-yard medley team of Anderson, Shank, Yurko and Pegler finished second in 2:15.51 as did the 200 freestyle team of Pegler, Shank, Johnson and Benford in 1:53.38 — exactly 1.1 seconds off the season-best mark for the Pirates. Anderson, who has earned more regular time with the top units in relays during recent weeks added a third-place showing in the 100 backstroke (1:17.19).

Pembroke Hill Dual

Platte County won three races during a small dual with Pembroke Hill last Friday at Platte County Community Center North.

With many swimmers in off events, Cruce (200 freestyle, 2:19.28), Anderson (100 backstroke, 1:16.00) and Benford (100 breastroke, 1:22.68) claimed the first-place finishes. The Pirates also had the runnerup in two of those races freshman Rivey Butler in the 100 backstroke (1:31.59) and Shank (1:25.02) in the 100 breastroke.

Johnson placed second in the 50 freestyle (28.37).

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