Farmer, Watson leads Loggers cross country with All-State finishes

The Libby cross country team finished their season Saturday at the MHSA Class A State Championships in Missoula with two All-State runners.

Head coach Brittany Katzer said she couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the season.

“I was incredibly proud of how both teams developed over the season,” Katzer said. “We had 24 student-athletes participating in cross country this year, and every one of them showed improvements. The girls really stepped up when it mattered most, putting together their best team performance of the year at State.”

Sophomore Capri Farmer’s fourth-place finish highlighted the day in the girls race and junior Cody Watson’s 11th-place performance in the boys race. Both earned All-State honors for their efforts.

Farmer crossed the finish line in 19:15.6, securing her spot among the state’s elite. She was followed by sophomore Alli Clemons, who finished 38th in 21:36.2, junior Hailey Misner, 54th in 22:16.7, sophomore Lillian Bailey, 120th in 25:03.0, and a trio of first-time state competitors—freshman Rylee Thompson (134th, 25:37.3, personal record), freshman Kyla Lausen (137th, 25:59.3, PR), and sophomore Evalyn Cliff (145th, 26:58.9, PR)—all closing out the season with personal bests.

On the boys’ side, Watson clocked 16:55.4 to place 11th. Junior Colter Anderson took 69th in 18:53.1, followed by junior Samuel Erickson (84th, 19:15.3), sophomore Jake Rusdal (90th, 19:23.4, PR), freshman Cody Katzer (120th, 20:06.3), sophomore Ignacio Guerra (141st, 21:07.9) and junior Jack Hayven (154th, 22:26.4).

According to Katzer, the girls shaved an average of 90 seconds off their previous times on the same Missoula course, while the boys shaved an average of 6 seconds.

“Looking at our 5K records list, it was really great to see three of our current girls and two of our current boys on the top 10 list,” she said. “Capri Farmer is first with a 19:04, Alli Clemons fifth with a 21:13, and Hailey Misner is eighth with a 21:44. On the boys side, Cody Watson is second with a 16:35 and Colter Anderson is ninth with a 17:18.”

Libby’s cross country program, she added, has been strengthened by its culture of support and consistency.

“We’ve built a strong foundation of consistency and support within the cross country program,” Katzer said. “With the success of runners like Capri and Cody, younger athletes are looking up to them as role models and are starting to set their own goals for the future.”

Farmer balanced her running with the demands of Libby’s soccer season, a challenge Katzer said she handled with maturity.

“Capri is only a sophomore and she had such an outstanding season,” she said. “She was also balancing being on the soccer team, but was very smart about her training and recovery. She ended her season with a phenomenal state race, placing fourth overall. Cody also had a successful season, often earning awards for his top finishes.”

As the season wraps up, Katzer said the team’s success at State sets the tone for next year.

“The end of the season is always bittersweet,” she said, “but we have plans in place to come back even faster and stronger next season.”

Troy caps season with PRs at Class B state meet

Troy wrapped up its cross country season at the MHSA Class B State Championships on Saturday in Missoula, highlighted by two personal-best performances and solid runs across the board from a young group competing as individuals.

Freshman Daisy Williams led the Trojan girls, placing 67th in 23:12.3, a personal record in her state debut. Senior Jaylee Meyers closed out her Troy career with a steady race, finishing 79th in 23:40.1.

On the boys’ side, sophomore Kai Brownell delivered Troy’s top finish, placing 53rd in 18:55.8, also a personal record. Senior Dmitrii Walenter followed in 68th at 19:11.0, and junior Michael Gillespie rounded out the Trojan contingent in 196th with a time of 23:15.0.

    Libby Logger Cody Watson takes a time of 16:55.4 in the A Boys Division at the Montana High School Association Cross Country Championships. Watson took 11th place at the University of Montana Golf Course on Oct. 25. (Emily Messer/Lake County Leader)
  

    Members of the Libby Loggers cross country team at the Montana High School Association Class A Championships in Missoula. (Courtesy photo)