Platte County returned five runners with Class 4 MSHSAA Cross Country Championships experience, but so far, only four of those state qualifiers have been in the lineup. In the interim, the Pirates have received significant contributions from senior Ethan Smith and a pair of freshmen — a trend continued during Saturday’s Raymore-Peculiar Invitational.
Platte County freshman Landon McKinzie runs in the Raymore-Peculiar Invitational on Saturday at Raymore_Peculiar High School in Peculiar.
Competing in the Large Division, Platte County finished fifth on a familiar course at Raymore-Peculiar High School in Raymore. While juniors Blake Herron (eighth) and Donavin Ness (25th) plus senior Tanner Jenks (16th) led the way in posting a point total of 149, the Pirates’ score also included freshman Landon McKinzie (48th) and Smith (52nd).
Platte County continued to go without senior Ben Letcher, struggling with breathing issues that have hindered him at other points during a solid career. The Pirates also saw junior and returning state qualifier Elijah Jackson well off his normal time as the No. 7 finisher on Saturday.
Herron topped Platte County’s lineup for the third time in three races, coming in at 16:24.30. The returning all-state runner followed Kearney junior Isaac Smith (fifth) as the top Class 4 runners in the field.
Also a 2023 all-state performer, Jenks returned to the lineup after being out the previous weekend due to illness. He finished in 16:42.40, while Ness rounded out the trio of two-time state qualifiers for the Pirates at 17:24.70.
Platte County didn’t have any season- nor career-best times, but McKinzie (18:22.00) and Smith (18:30.00) weren’t far off along with freshman Tate Stone (18:53.30). Those three have become important for the Pirates in supporting the top three and Jackson, who came in 69th on Saturday (19:22.40) but has otherwise consistently been in the top five for the Pirates in the first two races.
With the home Judge “Chris” Stubbs Invitational scheduled for Thursday canceled due to expected heat, Platte County now doesn’t run again until visiting the state course for the Gans Creek Classic on Saturday, September 28, in Columbia.
