Sun, sun, sun, beautiful run day.

With the Montana fall sun shining brightly on the proceedings in near-perfect autumn weather, the 2025 Western B-C divisional cross country meet was contested at River’s Bend outside of Thompson Falls Thursday.

For the hometown Blue Hawk harriers, Weston Block and the Franck sisters, Libby and Lexi, led the way. A sophomore, Block clocked 17:12.30 to finish fifth in the boys race, Libby, an eighth grader, ran the scenic River’s Bend course in 22:04.23 for eighth place in the girls race, and big sister Lexi, another sophomore, clocked 23:06.27 for twelfth place.

Eureka claimed the boys team title with a low combined score of 45, Plains (59) took second, Florence (83) third and the Blue Hawks (98) fourth, followed by Arlee (120), Two Eagle River (140), Anaconda (166), Mission (221) and Deer Lodge (225).

Florence won the girls Western B-C championship with 29 points, Drummond was second with 32, Eureka third with 84 and Two Eagle River fourth with 87.

A total of 77 runners competed in the boys varsity race and 49 in the girls varsity event.

The season-ending State All-Class cross country meet will be held in Missoula at the University of Montana golf course October 25 and everybody who is anybody in Montana XC will be there for that.

Long time Thompson Falls coach Sarah Naegeli, the motor behind the running of the annual Western B-C race in Thompson Falls, was happy with the results of her latest effort in that regard, and with her teams, collectively and individually.

“We had lots of PRs (personal records), which is what we have been working towards,” she said “And our three kids that did not set a new PR had their second-best times of the year.”

Nathan Baxter was second among the Blue Hawk boys with a season-best time of 19:26.50, Blake Shusterman, the Hawks’ only senior who was recognized during a special

seniors-only presentation during the awards ceremony following the races, broke 20 minutes for the first time, finishing in a personal record time of 19:51.35, and eighth grader Jonathan Toyias out ran his previous best time ever by over a minute with a time of 20:21.21.

Freshman Ethan Traver (20:25.70) and eighth grader Wyatt Clawson (20:39.56) also ran very well and will now join the throng of runners from all corners of Montana in Missoula Saturday.

With the Hawk girls, Gabby Taylor and Maddy Zyromski rounded out the Thompson Falls efforts in that race with lifetime best times. Another promising eighth grader, Gabby finished in 24:07.14, and Zyrmoski crossed the finish line in 24:42.03, about 40 seconds better than she has ever done before.

Naegeli was encouraged by her harriers at River’s Bend and looks for big things from them again this week. “Looking at those results, I'm quite excited for the state meet,” she said. “We'll have a full boys team to score, and our four girls are together again. The runners were not only proud of their individual races, but the excitement was really there as they watched and cheered on their teammates so well also.”

As for the perfect fall weather that visited the meet this year, Naegeli was also grateful for that, and for the work of athletic director Doree Thilmony and the friendly staff at River’s Bend. “What a perfect day for a XC race!” she said, thanking all the runners, coaches and personnel who made the 2025 running of the Western B-C such a smashing success.

    RACE TO THE FINISH – Thompson Falls senior Blake Shusterman (265) duels a Two Eagle runner down the stretch as his Hawk teammates cheer him on at the Western B-C divisional meet at River’s Bend Thursday. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)