Platte County senior Andrew Johnson was the Class 4 District 4 Runner-Up when he crossed the finish line in 15:42.59 on Oct. 28.
KANSAS CITY – The cold running conditions didn’t faze Platte County in the Class 4 District 4 Cross-Country Meet at Staley High School on Oct. 28.
The Platte County boys won a district title, and the girls were the runners-up. The Pirates had 37 points – 10 less than second-place Lincoln College Prep – and the Lady Pirates ended with 53 points, which was 14 more than first-place Kearney.
Platte County dominated in the boys’ race, having four of the first six finishers. Lincoln College Prep senior Isaac Rivera won the race in 15:30.86 and Platte County senior Andrew Johnson was the next person to cross the finish line.
Johnson became the runner-up with a time of 15:42.59, then nearly 30 seconds passed before anyone else finished. Smithville junior Liam Adair claimed third place, then the Pirates had three consecutive finishers.
Kade Meinke led the trio of Pirates with a 16:40.45 finish in fourth place. Tanner Jenks and Blake Herron were close together in the next two spots, both ending in less than 16:45.
Donavin Ness finished high enough to qualify for state as an individual – which is rewarded to the top-30 – with a 20th place finish in 17:37.42. Benjamin Letcher crossed the finish line in 19:08.16 in 39th place and Elijah Jackson ended in 19:26.04, good for 42nd place.
The Platte County girls had the runner-up and third-place runner, following district champion Kayleigh Norris from Harrisonville who crossed the finish line in 18:17.81. Sisely Mitchell was the next finisher in 19:13.26 and Carmen Gentilia earned third place in 19:29.78.
Madison Palmer ended in 21:51.77, earning 13th place. Eleanor McCoy and Joanna Reil took 19th and 21st places with times of 22:27.97 and 22:31.82, respectively.
Alex Beman was the 28th runner to cross the finish line, doing so in 23:06.24. Platte County will head to Columbia, MO, to compete at state at Gans Creek on Nov. 4.