Mission Mountain Mercury qualifies for nationals at Junior Olympic meet

The Mission Mountain Mercury running club turned in a stellar performance at the USATF Montana Association Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships this past weekend, earning a trip to nationals and cementing its status as one of the state’s elite youth distance programs. 

The team’s 15–18 girls squad dominated the 5,000-meter race, taking the top three individual spots and running away with the overall team title. Mission Mountain Mercury scored just 17 points to outdistance perennial powerhouse Helena Novas, finishing second with 50. 

Leading the charge was Morgan Delaney, who won the race in 18:47.9. She was followed closely by teammates Capri Farmer (19:20.6) and Quinn Delaney (19:35.5). Kyla Meissner placed fifth in 20:00.0, and Anna Lewis took sixth in 20:24.1, rounding out a Mercury sweep of the top six positions. 

Also finishing strong were Karis Brightwings-Pease (8th, 20:33.1), Koko Scott (9th, 20:33.4), Annie Adams (22nd, 24:21.0), Reese Adams (23rd, 25:02.2), and Emma Heiner (24th, 25:16.3). 

“Our club had a really great experience at this weekend’s Junior Olympics,” said coach Jason Delaney. “Our 15–18 girls team qualified for nationals and are planning to fundraise and take a competitive team there to see how we stack up against the best clubs in the country. On paper, this group could do quite well.” 

The club’s success extended far beyond the high school ranks, with several Mercury runners medaling in younger divisions. 

In the 13–14 girls race, Toren Wenz placed third overall with a time of 16:18.2, while in the 11–12 girls race, Elaina Lozar finished eighth in 14:24.5. The 11–12 boys also performed well, led by Briggs Delaney (3rd, 12:15.6), Jax McConnell (7th, 13:06.1), and Rokton Walter (11th, 13:59.4). 

The youngest Mercury runners also impressed. In the 9–10 girls division, Kendyl Larson and Olive Cheff finished second and third, respectively, clocking 15:32.6 and 15:34.9. On the boys’ side, Finley Lozar finished fourth in 13:29.8, and Simon Brenner took seventh in 17:06.1. 

Mission Mountain Mercury’s lone entry in the 15–18 boys division, Tayshawn Edmo, placed 11th overall and fourth among 15–16-year-olds with a time of 18:37.7. 

Altogether, more than a dozen Lake County youth athletes represented the club across multiple age divisions, showcasing the depth of the Mission-area distance running scene. 

With their 15–18 girls squad advancing to nationals, the Mercury will now shift their focus toward preparing for the next stage — and raising funds to make the trip possible. 

The 2025 USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships will be held at the Blue River Cross Country Course in Shelbyville, Ind. on Dec. 13. Athletes will be going door-to-door looking for donations or donations can be made via the club’s GoFundMe at https://gofund.me/22bdc341a.  

The club is also hosting its annual Run-a-Thon fundraiser, which is a spaghetti dinner at Delaney's Landscape Center on Dec. 3 from 5-7 p.m.