With a chance to test out the district course for the second time this fall ahead of the postseason, the North Platte girls and West Platte boys cross-country teams impressed in the Bishop LeBlond Invitational at Platte Ridge on Oct. 1.
West Platte senior Charlie Kinslow won the Bishop LeBlond Invitational with a time of 16:43 at Platte Ridge on Oct. 1.
The meet was originally going to take place at Missouri Western State University, but due to reconstruction of the course, the meet took place at Platte Ridge. West Platte was successful as the boys took third place – one point shy of second place – and the girls finished fourth in their race, while the North Platte girls won it all.
Charlie Kinslow continued his dominance as he left two runners from St. Michael’s behind just before the two-mile marker and cruised to a 40 second win in a time of 16:43. Kinslow continues to be a favorite to win the class 2 individual title having been ranked in the top-three all season.
Tristan Newkirk ran his best race ever on the Platte Ridge course, finishing the day in 10th place with at time of 18:09. Jonah McGivern was not far behind, crossing the line in 14th place with a time of 18:23.
Noah Rees ended in 26th place with his second-best career time of 19:19. Hutch Bartee ran fifth for the Blue Jays in 21:50 and Antonio Laguna completed the 5K in 26:48.
In the girls’ race, West Platte junior Julia Pattison ran a minute faster than her last time on the course and claimed ninth overall in 21:52. Payton Reber continued her promising freshman season by turning in a time of 25:34 and finished 32nd.
Reber was followed by Kaitlyn Reinke in 42nd place and Brieyn Elmore in 45th place. Blair McHenry rounded out the Lady Blue Jays’ squad finishing 52nd overall.
North Platte had four of the first 10 overall finishers, starting with freshman Chloe Heckman who finished in fourth place in 21:18. Jessa Cassity and Brianna DeBord finished behind Heckman back-to-back in fifth and sixth places, with times of 21:32 and 21:37, respectively.
Shelby Lingle rounded out the top-10 with a time of 22:11, while Alaina Scroggins finished in 20th place in 24:02. Lonee French finished in 30th place and Audrey Buckler ended in 37th place.
For the Panthers, Noah Heckman led the way with a fifth-place finish with a time of 17:45. Josh Schaffart was the 16th runner to cross the finish line in 18:38.
The freshman duo of Drake Keraus and Hunter Palmer finished in 27th and 32nd places with times of 19:24 and 19:46, respectively. Mark Humes ended in 45th place, Waylon McCracken finished in 70th place and Wesley Meadows took 77th place.
North Platte will make a trip to Colombia to run at the state course at Gans Creek on October 8. West Platte will run at Kearney on that same day.