Lucky moose? Who needs a good luck charm when you can run like this?

Running like the wind, Plains harriers Owen Jermyn, Cord Greer and Marina Tulloch led the Plains Horsemen and Trotters at the Western B-C divisional cross country meet at River’s Bend in Thompson Falls Thursday.

Setting a new personal record by completing the course in a blistering fast time of 15:57.01 (another career best and school record time), Jermyn won first place in the boys race while the steadily spectacular Greer wasn’t all that far behind, winning second place in an equally impressive time of 16:13.96, his personal best time.

For her part, running in only her third race of the year after a fall full of battling illness which limited her training severely, Tulloch, the defending State B champion, timed out in 21:03.95 for fourth place in the girls race.

Led by Jermyn and Greer, but bolstered by Kalem Ercanbrack (tenth overall in 18:03.10), Brock Ryan (19:37.16), Remington Ryan (20:29.83) and Max Baxter (21:38.27), the Horsemen harriers scored 59 team points and finished second to Eureka (45), but ahead of Florence (83), Thompson Falls (98) and five other scoring teams in the 2025 Western B-C.

The Horsemen might have even won the team title if not for the absence of Jack Cockrell, their number four runner normally who was out after coming down with a stomach bug the night before Thursday’s race. Plains associate head coach Charity Jermyn (with husband Jesse Jermyn being the official head coach) said Cockrell is fully expected to compete in the Class B portion of the Montana All-Class meet this coming Saturday in Missoula with his teammates.

With the Trotters, Tulloch was followed in by Annika Ercanbrack (11th in 22:57.04), Emmy Russell (16th in 23:24.08) and Kylie Silva (29th in 25:12.46).

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

Competing for Plains in the two-mile middle school races, Finnian Ercanbrack won third among the boysin 12:40.95 and Jace Russell fourth in 13:12.93, while Pearl Ferlen won eight place in the girls race in 17:19.80.

Friends or foes, Jermyn and Greer were the undisputed stars of the meet for Plains. During the awards presentation, Owen was seen cradling a small stuffed moose, the team’s unofficial good luck charm after its owner Brock Ryan introduced his personal Bullwinkle to share with the rest of the Plains running crew.

The dynamic duo of Owen and Cord, like they have in so many races this season, set a very fast pace in the boys race and eventually ran away from the pack in the end.

The scary thing about these two, at least for the competition, is the fact that both are only 15 and their best running days are ahead of them. “The nice thing about having the two of them is they train together and use each other during the race,” Charity said, adding that since they are both so young. “This is all still a learning experience for them, and they are as prepared as possible.”

It turns out the Plains school record that Owen broke Saturday is one of his own he originally set at River’s Bend two years ago in the running of 2023 Western B-C back when he was in eighth grade. As a result, any record he breaks from now on will be his own, unless perhaps Greer happens to make a big move and passes his teammate at some point.

Running very fast but largely in Owen’s shadow, Greer’s talent should not be underestimated. “Cord is a competitor that needs to be taken seriously,” Charity said.

Coaches Jermyn were happy with Tulloch’s fine showing after a very difficult season for their star Trotter harrier due to illness. “We really won't see her put down the times she's capable of until the post season,” Charity said. “She unfortunately got a late start to training and to try to push her to catch up would only set her up for injury.”

Although clearly disappointed with her performance in the Western B-C, Tulloch could still rock the apple cart in Missoula at the State B Saturday, Charity offered, saying they “we're hoping for a top 10-15 finish.”

Owen and Cord will be among the individual favorites in the State B boys race, and the Horsemen hope to make a push in the team race as well.

    PLAINS SOPHOMORE Cord Greer clocked a personal-best time in winning second place individually in the Western B-C meet at River’s Bend Thursday. Greer helped the Horsemen harriers win second place in team scoring. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)
  

    AND THEY’RE OFF at the start of the boys varsity race in the Western B-C meet at River’s Bend Thursday. The majority of Plains harriers can be identified in this picture. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)
  

    TIME TO START – Thompson Falls and Plains runners check their watches at the starting line of the girls varsity race at the Western B-C divisional meet at River’s Bend Thursday. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)