This is shaping up to be an excellent year for the area’s two cross-country schools. 

Girls and boys' teams from both Thompson Falls and Plains are having success on the courses as the 2024 season gains momentum. 

A prime example of that early success is Plains sophomore Marina Tulloch, who finished first at the Corvallis Invitational meet this past Saturday. 

Tulloch’s win helped propel the Plains girls' team to a lofty fourth place in the Corvallis gathering, which was packed with upper division teams and individuals. 

She toured the 5,000-meter Corvallis course in 19:35.28, well ahead of runner up Mya Badger of Columbia Falls, who clocked 20:46.05. 

T Falls sophomore Aubrey Baxter placed 13th with a time of 22:13.38 for the Lady Hawks, who did not have enough runners to qualify for the team chase.  Baxter’s time was a personal best. 

In the boys’ competition, Plains freshman Owen John Jermyn finished fourth, helping the Plains boys to a fifth place showing.  Jerymyn covered the course in 17:08.8.  Hamilton junior Taylor Doleac won the boys race with a time of 16:49.54. 

Joining Tulloch in the top 20 finishers group was junior Savannah Costner, who crossed the finish line fourteenth (22:24.22).  Other top finishers for the Trotters were: freshman Tia Bellinger (23:36.61), twenty-sixth place; freshman Annika Ercanbrack, thirty-fourth (24:43.78), and Ireland Corbin, thirty-seventh (24:58.03). 

The T-Falls boys place ninth out of 12 teams, thanks in part to the thirty-seventh place finish by freshman Weston Block, who completed the course in a19:30, a new personal best.  Blake Shusterman posted a season-best time of 20:49, while other Blue Hawks finishers were Nathan Barber (21:04), a new personal best; Tuff Ryder (21:48); Luke Pastorius 22:06, a personal best; and Jacob Molina, 24:20, a season best time. 

For the Plains boys, in addition to Jermyn’s fourth place, freshman Cord Greer was twenty-first (18:27.38); Kalem Ercanback, twenty-sixth (19:07.88); Mike Reistroffer, thirty-first (19:22.88); sophomore Jack Cockrell, forty-fifth (20:09.58), and Brock Ryan, fifty-second (21:14.58). 

T Falls girls who competed, in addition to Baxter were Lexi Franck (24:03); Evy Edwards (24:45, new personal record); and Peighton Kenney (25:05, season best). 

A total of 81 runners competed in the boys division, while the girls race had 52 runners. 

“This was a much better race for our runners,” said T Falls head coach Sarah Naegeli. “Three days of cooler weather helped considerably.  Now we work on continued improvement”. 

Naegeli said the Corvallis course was an “open course with green grass, lots of curves and loops”. 

Both T Falls and Plains will particpate in the Thompson Falls Invitational this coming Saturday at the River’s Bend Golf Course west of T Falls. 

    Members of the Thompson Falls girls cross country team head out on the 5,000-meter course at the Corvallis Invitation this past Saturday. Plains sophomore Marina Tulloch finished first. (Photo by Sarah Naegeli)