The Run for Fun just keeps running and running and running… and the runners keep coming back, often with family and friends joining in on the running too.

The 48th annual Huckleberry Festival Run for Fun 5K, set up and conducted as always by the Clark Fork Valley Running Club, went off without a hitch as usual, kicking off the 2026 Huckleberry Festival activities from Trout Creek Saturday morning.

Also as usual, the actual mechanics of the Fun Run operation was run by Sarah and Bill Naegeli of Thompson Falls, and Jesse and Charity Jermyn of Plains, with a boost from Brock Ryan, who has ties to both towns. Sarah and Jesse are the head coaches of their town’s high school cross country programs.

“We had pretty good attendance, almost to the level of pre-Covid,” Sarah said, citing the 199 entries this year as opposed to the 200-250 numbers that were being drawn earlier pre-pandemic. She said the race was run virtually in 2020 to keep the continuity of the event going. "And what was really encouraging to me was the number of younger runners this year. Fifty-six of the entrants were 14 or under, Jesse broke out some new youth categories to accommodate them all.”

Jesse Jermyn emceed and administered the running of the actual race announcing runners as they crossed the finish line, while Naegeli announced the winners at the presentation afterward. After running the 5K herself in an age group best time of 29:16, by the way.

The course took runners south and east around Trout Creek and back down to Highway 200 and to the finish line at the Trout Creek Motel, where the after-race presentations were held.

Jesse and Charity’s son John Owen Jermyn, the reigning State B champion in cross country and the 1600 and 3200 meter runs, dominated the race individually finishing first overall and in the 15-19 age class in a time of 16:49 to highlight the men’s side of the race.

On the women’s side, running in the 10-14 girls class, Thompson Falls sixth grader Neala Block and friends shocked the field, with Neala winning first place in a remarkable time of 22:22. Also in the 10-14 girls class, Hadara Elke wasn’t far behind second in 24:07 and Neala’s sister Kleonna was third in 24:10.

Bailey Kroeker won the 15-19 division and women’s overall title in 24:46, but still finished behind the times of the Block sisters and Elke.

In another highlight of the race Art Souveroin won the Male 60-69 division with a remarkable time of 21:13.

Following is a listing of top three place-winners in each class of the 2026 Run for Fun.

Men’s Overall and 15-19 - 1, John Owen Jermyn, 16:49; 2, Ari Teske, 17:36; 3, Benj Hughes, 17:45.

Women’s Overall and 15-19 - 1, Bailey Kroeker, 24:46; 2, Brinley Skaggs, 25:06; Alexis Wine, 25:09.

Male 20-29 - 1, Walker Plank, 21:32; 2, Alec Cole, 23:33; 3, Ian Montoya, 24:03.

Female 20-29 – 1, Jesse Harris, 29:14; 2, Bree Jensen, 30:03; 3, Courtney Martin, 34:14.

Male 30-39 – 1, Jonathan Schaffer, 20:01; 2, Kyle Cole, 20:59; 3, Drew Owens (plus daughter Dylan), 23:41.

Female 30-39 – Jordan Krause, 26:48; 2, Audrey Frasier, 27:1; 3, Trae Owens, 28:47.

Male 40-49 – 1, Jake Streich, 20:10; 2, Christian Kafentis, 21:15; 3, Nate Block, 21:44.

Female 40-49 – 1, Laura Rose, 26:55; 2, Charity Jermyn, 26:57; 3, Terra Neilson, 31:32.

Male 50-59 – 1, Andrew Gideon, 26:43; 2, Michael Tessier, 28:36; 3, Scott McAllister, 33:34.

Female 50-59 – 1, Jeannette Smith, 25:48; 2, Katie Wointer, 29:59; 3, Sadeen McAllister, 35:29.

Male 60-69 – 1, Art Souveroin, 21:13; 2, Kim Earhart, 25:43; 3, Kelly Moore, 25:50.

Female 60-69 – 1, Sarah Naegeli, 29:16; 2, Teri Philips, 36:27; 3, Marlaina Mohr, 37:07.

Male 70-79 – 1, Rick Hanks, 28:19; 2, Michael Price, 35:40.

Female 70-79 – 1, Pat Bristo, 31:13; 2, Ronda LeClair, 35:36; 3, Teresa Kafentis, 51:15.

Male 14U and Overall – 1, Owen Hodik, 22:24; 2, Ryder Hastins, 22:57; 3, R. Streich, 23:37.

Female 10-14 and 14U Overall – 1, Neala Block, 22:22; 2, Hadara Elke, 24:07; 3, Kleonna Block, 24:10.

Male 9U – 1, R. Streich, 23:37; 2, M. Kastl, 31:04; 3, W. Schenavar, 31:04.

Female 9U – 1, A. Clawson, 32:20; 2, K. Posselt, 37:59; 3, G. Schenavar, 50:14.

Male 10-14 – 1, Owen Hodik, 22:24; 2, J. Russell, 23:46; 3, S. Smith, 24:41.

    NON-STOP NEALA – Thompson Falls 10-year-old Neala Block is shown approaching the finish line to win the Female 10-14 division of the Run for Fun 5K in Trout Creek Saturday in an amazing time of 22:22. The runner pictured behind Neala, Owen Hodik won the boys 10-14 class in 22:24. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)
  

    DREW OWENS and his daughter Dylan, 3, completed their third Run for Fun together in Trout Creek Saturday. From Missoula, Drew and Dylan have used the stroller in all three of their Run for Fun joint effort races to date. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)