For local high school cross country runners, the recent Mission Invitational meet in St. Ignatius was a chance for the concept of quality over quantity to shine.

With limited squads participating, runners from Sanders County’s two cross country programs fared well during the 5K run last Tuesday on a clear, warm day.

Plains runner Marina Tulloch, a freshman, was the top finisher among local runners, placing second among a field of 55 women’s competitors with a time of 21:36.22 over the 3.1 mile course.

The women’s race was won by Darby’s Lily Adair, who crossed the finish line in 21:07.39, leading a group of three runners who had times in less than 22 minutes.

Thompson Falls senior Faith Palmer led the three-member Lady Hawks contingent, taking third with a time of 21:52.36.

Only two schools had enough runners to qualify for the team title, which was won by Anaconda’s women and Ronan’s men.

In the men’s competition, Drummond runner Scott Parker finished first in the individual competition with a time of 17:14.71.

Tops among local runners was Thompson Falls senior Cael Thilmony, who placed seventh in the field of 69, completing the course in 18:29.90.

Plains eighth grader John Owen Jermyn placed thirteenth in the men’s race, crossing the finish line at the 19:08.31 mark. Horsemen teammate Joe Martin, a senior, was sixteenth with a time of 19:31.95.

Thompson Falls’ Blake Shusterman was 36th with a time of 22:12.38, while fellow Blue Hawk runner Jakob Molina finish 62nd at 26:32.74

Plains’ Kalem Ercanbrack finished the race in 20th position, with a time of 19:59.37, while teammate Drew Carey took 30th in 21:32.02, and Asher Seymour was 54th at 24:02.77

Lady Hawks runner Jaden Bewick placed 33rd with a time of 32:22. T Falls JV runner Evalyn Edwards finished the course with a time of 31:23.

“This was an interesting meet,” said Lady Hawks cross country coach Sarah Naegeli. “The heat was tough, but we worked on staying strong mentally. We had several runners sick or with some minor injuries, so they stayed home to rest, recover and recuperate and prepare for next week’s race.”

That next race for both Thompson Falls and Plains will be the Thompson Falls Invitational today (September 19) at the Rivers Bend Golf Course just west of Thompson Falls. Teams from throughout the area are expected to compete.

Both squads will then take place in what Naegeli labeled “the biggest race of the season”, the Mountain West meet in Missoula this Saturday.

“Typically there are 200-400 runners in each race (men’s and women’s)”, Naegali said. “It is great preparation for the state meet.”