West Platte’s cross country dominance in the KCI Conference continued on Oct. 18 at Platte Ridge Park in Platte City, while one North Platte standout capped her conference career with an unprecedented achievement.
For the second straight season, the Blue Jays swept the boys and girls team titles at the 2025 KCI Conference Championship — an event held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the West Platte Invitational, which took place simultaneously.
West Platte was led by a combined 11 all-conference performances between both teams. Meanwhile, North Platte senior Chloe Heckman became the first four-time girls individual champion in KCI Conference history — an unmatched career feat that cements her as one of the conference’s all-time greats.
Heckman crossed the line first in 20 minutes, 24.9 seconds, earning her fourth straight gold medal in the meet. West Platte claimed the next six top 10 spots to easily secure the girls’ team conference championship with 16 points, defeating second-place East Buchanan (55 points).
Senior Payton Reber led the Blue Jays’ title defense with a conference runner-up finish in 21:48.2, followed by freshman Megan Cline in third (22:09.0), senior Addison Bailey in fifth (22:18.0), freshman Charlotte Gillis in sixth (22:56.2), sophomore Jersey O’Neal in ninth (23:04.0), and freshman Avery Reber in tenth (23:09.9). The team of six each earned all-conference medals.
The Blue Jays’ boys followed suit, holding off North Platte for the team title in another tight race that mirrored last year’s results. West Platte finished with 29 points, led by sophomore Charles Trease, who placed third overall in 17:57.8, and junior Benjamin Pendergast, who took fourth in 18:17.8. Sophomore Samuel Miller (18:28.5) and senior Noah Rees (18:31.7) medaled in sixth and seventh, while sophomore Collin Frederick (18:44.2) completed the Blue Jays' all-conference honorees in ninth. Freshmen Michael Deffet and Lochlan Bailey added strong depth finishes for West Platte.
North Platte made the Blue Jays work for it behind a 1-2 individual punch from seniors Drake Keraus and William Schaffart, who finished first and second in 16:51.4 and 17:09.3, respectively. Sophomore Trey Heckman (8th, 18:42.8), freshman Carter Kreifels (12th, 19:21.3), and junior Devin Navarro (14th, 19:46.8) rounded out the Panthers’ top five as they placed second in the conference team standings with 37 points.
The event also served as the West Platte Invitational, with 17 schools competing on the boys’ side and 10 on the girls. Both West Platte teams finished as runners-up to Christ Preparatory Academy.
For the boys, West Platte placed second overall with 82 points, led by Trease (6th overall), Pendergast (12th), Miller (19th), Rees (21st), and Frederick (24th). North Platte finished close behind in third with 105 points, as Keraus led all runners and Schaffart placed third overall.
For the girls, West Platte finished second with 68 points behind a top-10 finish from Payton Reber and Megan Cline also finishing 12th. North Platte’s Heckman finished third overall while West Platte’s Payton Reber also got herself into the top 10.
West Platte and North Platte will return to Platte Ridge Park for the Class 2 District 4 meet on Nov. 1, when West Platte hopes to earn a shot to return to the state championship next month in Columbia.