Not too big, not too small, the Thompson Falls Invitational is just right – quite possibly the perfect competitive cross-country event.

Especially when the weather is like it was Saturday at the annual running of the Thompson Falls Invite, the biggest cross-country race of any year in Sanders County.

With the late summer sun still burning bright on a beautiful fall day at River’s Bend golf course Saturday, the well-attended Thompson Falls Invitational went off without a hitch Saturday as numerous teams from around western Montana and northern Idaho joined in on the running fun.

Over 400 runners raced in the Thompson Falls Invite this time around River’s Bend, with Columbia Falls sweeping the boys and girls varsity team titles and both Corvallis squads taking the middle school titles.

The Plains boys varsity, led by second place individual winner John Owen Jermyn (16:16.17) and third place Cord Greer (16:35.04) won third place in the team race. Jermyn and Greer are both sophomores. Kalen Ercanback (18:54) and Jack Cocrell (18:57) also contributed to the Horsemen’s third place team win.

For the Thompson Falls boys, sophomore Weston Block was again the first Hawk across the finish line, clocking 17:19.81 to place eighth overall, while Nathan Block (20:17), Blake Shusterman (20:42) and Ethan Traver (22:58) also ran well.

In the girls varsity race, defending State B champion Marina Tulloch returned to racing for the first time this season, clocking out in 22:08 for sixteenth place individually. Thompson Falls’ Lexi Franck also enjoyed a fine outing, winning 24th in 23:34. Maddy Zyromski also ran for the Hawks and finished in 26:15 while Kylie Silva competed for Plains, timing out in 26:27.

In the middle school races, the second place team finish by the Thompson Falls girls was a highlight for local runners.

Sixth grader Hartleigh Block led the Falls girls in by winning third place individually in 13:12, Libby Franck placed tenth in 14:21, Shelby Hannum (15:00) 17th, Gabby Taylor (15:21) 21st and Kalsin McGuire (16:29) 34th. Plains’ Emmy Russell placed 20th in 15:11.

In the boys middle school race, Jonathan Toyias won fourth place overall in 12:41, Wyatt Clawson took 14th in 13:26, Nolan Wilkes 25th in 13:50 and Christopher Toyias 46th in 15:22. Mason Marton of Plains completed the course 48th in 15:29.

The Western B-C divisional meet will also be held at River’s Bend October 16 with the State B-C, part of the Montana All-Class Meet in Missoula October 25.

    AT THE START, Thompson Falls sixth grader Hartleigh Block went on to win third place overall in the girls middle school race of the Thompson Falls Invitational Saturday. (John Hamilton/VP-MI)
  

    BLUE HAWK HARRIER freshman Nathan Baxter runs the race at the Thompson Falls Invitational at River’s Bend golf course outside of Thompson Falls Saturday. (John Hamilton/VP-MI)
  

    SEPARATED BY a runner from Eureka, Owen Jermyn of Plains (left) and Weston Block of Thompson Falls (right) shown running early in the boys varsity race of the Thompson Falls Invitational at River’s Bend Saturday. (John Hamilton/VP-MI)
  

    A LONG LINE of Thompson Falls Invitational boys varsity runners crowds the fairway of hole No. 2 at River’s Bend Saturday. Over 400 runners from around western Montana and north Idaho participated in the annual meet in the 2025 edition of the event. (John Hamilton/VP-MI)