In the final tune-up before defending his individual State B title in Billings Saturday, John Owen Jermyn broke his own course record in winning the boys individual title at the Western B-C Cross Country Invitational at River’s Bend outside of Thompson Falls Oct. 15 to lead the Plains cross country team.

The son of Plains coaches Jesse and Charity Jermyn, John Owen clocked out on the Bend in 15:57.1 this time to break the course record he set in 2025 and lead the Horsemen to a fifth place team finish.

Also earning All-Western B-C honors, Cord Greer placed ninth in 17:56.7. Greer was slightly under the weather and did not run full tilt Thursday. He won third place individually in last year’s State B meet.

Leading the Plains girls, freshman Emmy Russell won seventh place individually to also secure an All-Western B-C medal.

Kylie Silva (18th in 23:49.7) and Annika Ercanbrack (24th in 24:55.5) also competed for the Plains girls.

“Most of our kids PR’d (set new personal records) in Thompson Falls,” coach Jermyn said. “We’re excited to go to Billings and see what we can do there.”

The Plains boys finished fifth in the high school race, with Finnian Ercanbrack (20:19.3), Tyler Barton (20:27.9), Bryan Lakko (20:52.0) and Riley Geenen (21:30.0) backing up John Owen and Cord.

Jace Russell led the Plains middle school runners by winning second in the boys race in 12:545.8, Louis Jermyn (14:12.5) took seventh, Mason Morton (15:29.2) 17th and Kael Meaden (16:18.7) 18th.

Jordyn Albertson (5th in 16:26.6), Ashlynn Weedeman (6th in 16:39.1), Gracelyn Larsen (8th 17:18.2), Pearl Ferlen (9th 17:47.4) and Lianna Loveall (12th in 18:04.4) rounded out Plains efforts in the Western B-C meet.

    TROTTER RUNNER Kylie Silva leads teammate Annika Ercanbrack and a Florence runner during the running of the Western B-C Invitational at River’s Bend golf course Thursday. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)