The schedule provides a definitive challenge, but Platte County hopes a roster stacked with experience can continue to take strides in competing at the Class 4 level.
The Pirates didn’t lose a runner from the top five on either of their teams, and the top seven for both should include nothing but returners. The current group produced a pair of runner-up finishes in the Suburban Conference Blue Division last season, but the Class 4 District 8 meet — one of the most competitive in the state — ended with two eighth-place showings.
During the past two years, Platte County adjusted to competing in the state’s largest classification. Team results have been difficult, but individuals continue to shine at the highest level.
Rebekah Geddes, a decorated junior, returns as a two-time all-state performer after finishing sixth a year ago. She enters with the school record, becoming the first in program history to break the 19-minute mark at the Capital City Challenge last year.
In addition to Geddes, juniors Erin Straubel, Jessica Clark and Lauren Johnson along with sophomore Hannah Valentine give Platte County developing depth.
The boys also have a returning state qualifier after Jackson Letcher’s freshman season ended with a 75th-place showing at state. He flirted with the 17-minute mark and finished in 17 minutes, 12 seconds to cap a breakout season.
Letcher made the all-conference team along with senior teammates Jared Maksudian and Hunter Long and junior Evan Edwards and sophomore Keegan Cordova. Nick Bjustrom, another junior, grabbed the third best time for Platte County at districts, displaying the Pirates’ balance behind Letcher.