The Libby boys track and field team proved the adage that every point counts following its triumph Saturday at the Logger Invitational.

Logger Stadium saw a lot of great performances, including some record-breaking performances.

But, led by senior Tristan Andersen, the Loggers’ 89 points were enough to claim the team championship over Bigfork, which scored 82. With 77 points, Ronan was a close third while Plains, with 75, placed fourth.

A fully healthy Andersen had his best javelin throw of his career, 179 feet, 10 inches, to easily win the event. It’s the best throw among Class A competitors in 2026 in Montana.

Andersen also won the high jump with a 6-foot leap. His third win came as a member of the 4x100-meter relay team that crushed the competition by two seconds. Isaiah Barks led the way with Ledger Fortner and Colter Anderson running the second and third legs as they finished in 45.97 seconds.

“We don’t always run that relay together,” Andersen explained. “We run it when we all feel pretty good and the nice weather really helped, too.”

No one could stop talking about the weather and how ideal it was for the meet. Not too cold, not too hot, not too windy.

Andersen’s health was a big deal, too. After suffering a broken bone in his back during the basketball season of his junior year, he struggled to clear six feet.

Andersen also had a fifth-place finish in the long jump, scoring all-important points. Teammate Ledger Fortner was second in the long jump with a leap of 19 feet, 10 1/2 inches.

But the highlight of the day was clearly the javelin throw just shy of 180 feet.

“My goal is to win it all this year,” Andersen said. “I’d like to get on the podium (medal) at state in the high jump and qualify in the long jump.”

"I am proud of the way our athletes competed on Saturday," head coach Josh Bean said. "We had many personal bests highlighted by Tristan Andersen qualifying for state in the high jump (6-0) and the javelin (179-7) which is currently the best throw in Class A. Capri continues to impress in the 3200M. Her time of 11:06.95 breaks her school record again by 7 1/2 seconds. With that time she also holds the Logger Stadium record in the 3200M."

Coach Bean also appreciated the efforts to host the meet, saying, "Many thanks to all the volunteers who made the track meet happen."

In the race for points, juniors Cody Watson (second) and Colter Anderson (fifth) scored in the 800-meter run. Watson also was third in the 3,200-meter run. In the 4x400 relay, Fortner, Anderson and Watson joined Gabe Kosters in a tight finish at the wire for the win.

The javelin was an event that saw the Loggers claim three of the top six spots. Senior Urijah Bache’s 143 foot, 5 inch toss was fourth and eighth-grader Hudson Hannah’s 131 foot, 10 inches was sixth. Both were personal bests.

Not quite a year ago, Hannah set a Libby middle school record with a 127 feet, 9 inches.

The pole vault was also fertile ground for the Loggers to score points. Junior Bridger Moe and senior Gabe Kosters were second and third, respectively, after hitting the 11-foot mark. Bache was fifth at 10-6.

Libby girls see strong individual performances

For the girls varsity, Libby got dominating performances from sophomore distance Capri Farmer.

Farmer won the 800-meter run in 2:26.89, her nearest competitor more than 15 seconds behind. She left the competition far behind in the 3,200 run in 11:06.95. The runner-up was one minute, 27 seconds behind her.

Farmer also broke a 34-year-old Logger Stadium record in the 3,200. Her time of 11:06.95 was nearly 14 seconds better than Flathead runner McMurry's 11:20.63, set on May 8, 1992.

Libby freshman Ava Jensen won the 1,600-meter run in 6:13.94.

Loggers coach Dan Rose said it was Jensen’s first time running the event and likely not her last.

Junior Hailey Misner won the 200-meter dash in 27.81 seconds.

Sophomore Evalyn Cliff was fourth in the 100-meter hurdles and pole vault while eighth-grader Reagan Vincent was fifth in the 400 run. Sophomore Krisign Huff was fifth in the shot put.

Libby is back in action Saturday at Columbia Falls.

    Libby freshmen Ava Jensen won the 1,600-meter run Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Libby Track and Field Invitational at Logger Stadium. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby junior Hailey Misner won the 200-meter dash Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Libby Track and Field Invitational at Logger Stadium. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby junior Bridger Moe set a personal best in the pole vault with a top leap of 11 feet Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Libby Track and Field Invitational. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)