Tyler Stambersky received the first of what could be many looks at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course and made a strong initial impression.
Platte County freshmen Madison Fuller (left) and Arsema Ayiche run in the Gans Creek Classic on Saturday at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia.
On Saturday, Platte County’s freshman No. 1 set a personal-best of 20 minutes, 17.70 seconds to finish sixth in the Gans Creek Classic’s Blue Division race in Columbia. She dipped under 21 minutes for the first time since the season-opening Tim Nixon Invitational and did so at the home of the Class 4 MSHSAA Cross County Championships.
Stambersky hopes to come back for that race next month, especially after this most recent bounceback performance.
Platte County ran 10 and placed third in the final standings of an eclectic mix of 23 teams ranging from small to large. The Pirates totaled a 182 score and finished behind only St. Louis Blue Knights (134) and Lexington (168) with a lineup featuring a mix of newcomers and returners with significant postseason experience.
Supporting Stambersky’s medal-winning effort, Platte County senior Maddie Nichols also set a season-best (31st, 21:16.20) while senior Madison Palmer came in 40th with the fastest time this season (21:36.20), a little more than 40 seconds off her career-best of 20:56.00 set last year at state on the same course.
Platte County junior Nora McCoy runs in the Gans Creek Classic on Saturday at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia.
Palmer has been part of Platte County’s last three state qualifying teams but did not run as a sophomore due to illness.
Platte County freshmen Arsema Ayiche (67th, 22:29.80) and Madison Fuller (68th, 22:31.00) rounded out the team score in their varsity debuts. This continued to show off the depth and varied contributions so far this season with juniors Eleanor McCoy (75th, 22:48.30) and Maddie Stewart (77th, 22:51.40) next in the Pirates’ list of finishers and both ran last year at Class 4 District 8 with McCoy also going to state in her first season on varsity.
McCoy set a season-best time on Saturday.
In addition, Platte County senior Alexia Myer (88th, 23:09.80) and juniors Indigo Teuful (94th, 23:15.20) and Joanna Reil (100th, 23:22.80) have been in the top five at points this fall. Reil ran at state her first two seasons, as well.
Platte County entered the season having sent a team to state each of the past four seasons but looks to be building around a star freshman and trying to figure out the optimal seven-runner lineup. The next chance comes Saturday morning in the Sock it to Cancer Grain Valley Invitational.
