Audrey Fairbank won third place in the girls’ race and Weston Block fourth with the boys to lead Thompson Falls harriers in the 2026 Western B-C Invitational at River’s Bend outside of Thompson Falls Oct. 15.

Coach Sarah Naegeli and her Hawks now make their ways to Billings for the All-State Cross Country meet Saturday. She said the Hawks will be sharing a bus with the Plains cross country team for the cross-state trip to Billings.

Naegeli was impressed with what she saw from her Hawks at the Western B-C at River’s Bend last week. “Audrey ran a great race, kept her form really well through the second half,” she said, “and Weston ran his best of the season. Both should do well in Billings.”

Fairbank, a sophomore, finished her 5K in 21:06.8 and Block, a junior, completed his in 17:01.0 for their Western B-C Invitational top ten medals.

Also running for the Hawk girls, senior Aubrey Baxter won 14th place in 23:38.6.

Also running for the Hawk boys, senior Caleb McCray narrowly missed all Western B-C honors with a 12th place finish in 18:11.1, Nathan Baxter (19:15.8) placed 23rd and Wyatt Clawson (21:11.3) 49th.

Alec Cribbs (22:36.8), Zach Bortz (23:42.9) and Brody Smith (24:55.1) rounded out Thompson Falls efforts in the Western B-C. “Alec was another minute faster this week,” Naegeli said, “and Zach dropped another 30 seconds. Everyone ran pretty well last week.”

In the team race, Mission won the boys Western B-C Invitational title with 88 points, Eureka was second at 11 and Florence third at 113. The Hawks finished eighth with 132 team points.

On the girls’ side, Florence won with 22 points followed by Mission with 50 and Anaconda with 61.

    OFF TO THE RACES, Thompson Falls sophomore Audrey Fairbank (364) and senior Aubrey Baxter (right) at the start of the Western B-C Invitational at River’s Bend golf course Thursday. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)