Are glory days ahead for Plains track and field in 2026?

If results so far this spring are any indication, the Plains boys and girls track teams could indeed be basking in postseason glory by the time the big meets roll around in late May. Coach Jesse Jermyn and his powerful Horsemen and Trotter teams could be headed for some modern-day glory of their own based on their performances so far.

Plains track and field teams continue the season visiting Thompson Falls for that annual invitational Tuesday and participating in the Seeley-Swan Invitational at MCPS in Missoula Saturday.

Proving their boundless and timeless potential with fine performances from all the disciplines, the Plains girls won the Libby Invitational team title with 100 points and the boys scored 75 team points to finish fourth behind host Libby (89), Bigfork (82) and Ronan (77). Twelve teams competed in the girls meet in Libby and 11 in the boys.

Sophomore Hadyn Rice led the Plains girls by winning two events, placing second in another and anchoring the 400 meter relay to first place. Rice won the javelin with a best throw of 115-5 and the 300 meter hurdles in 48.33 seconds, was second to teammate Kalli Tuma in the 100 meter hurdles, and joined Katelyn Subatch, Tuma and Reese Meredith to win the 400 meter relay.

Besides winning the 100 meter hurdles in 17.37 seconds, Tuma also finished second to Rice in the 300 hurdles, and joined her teammates to win the 400 meter relay.

Subatch also placed fourth in the high jump and 300 meter hurdles, and tied for fourth in the 100 meter dash.

Meredith also won third place in the long jump, Savanah Costner ran to second in the 3200 meters and Annika Ercanback earned second place in the 1600 meters to complete Plains scoring in the girls meet.

Sophomore distance runners Cord Greer and John Owen Jermyn were the only Plains boys to win events in Libby as Greer clocked 10:05.82 to win the 3200 meters and Jermyn timed out in 4:39.53 to win the 1600 meters.

Greer also placed third in the 800 meters and Simeon Costner placed in two running events, claiming second in the 3200 meters and fourth in the 800.

Cooper Merdith placed in three events, winning second in the 110 meter hurdles, fourth in the 300 hurdles and sixth in the triple jump.

Jackson Revier ran down third place in the 400 meter run and Greg Tatum won fourth in the shot put to complete scoring for the Horsemen in the Libby Invitational.

    CLEARING THE BAR, Clint Weedeman of Plains finished second in the boys junior high jump in the Thompson Falls Invitational junior high track meet April 17. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)
  

    KEEPING THE PACE, Jace Russell of Plains runs in the 1600 meters at the Thompson Falls Invitational junior high meet at Previs Field Friday. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)
  

    IN THE RUNNING – Emmy Russell of Plains, and Juniper Spence and Olivia White of Superior keep pace with a Libby runner in the girls’ 1600 meter race in the Thompson Falls junior high track meet April 17. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)