John Owen Jermyn won third place and Cord Greer fourth to lead Plains cross country teams in the State B portion of the 2026 Montana All-Class meet at Amend Park in Billings Saturday.

Breaking the previous State B record time of 15:48.62 (set by Peyton Summers of Wolf Point in 2023), Jermyn timed out in 15:42.8 Saturday to win third behind Ethan Walker of Harlem (15:20.5) and Ben Martin of Darby (15:27.2).

Also beating the previous State B record time, Greer out-kicked Poplar’s Jaycee Hickman (15:47.1 to 15:47.2) to win fourth place.

Plains coach Jesse Jermyn said that John Owen and Cord did not necessarily have their best running days in Billings. John Owen had edged out Walker for the individual State B title last year and Greer pulled in third. The three also have a running battle of sorts going on in track and field but that is a story for another season.

A very flat course may have contributed to some unease in Billings. “It’s different not having any hills to work off and having the long sightlines,” coach Jermyn said. “It obviously leads to some quicker times, a lot of kids put down some good ones, it was just something different for us.”

Emmy Russell (21:57.4), Kylie Silva (23:03.1) and Annika Ercanbrack (23:47.1) with the Plains girls, and Jack Cockrell (18:55.8), Finnian Ercanbrack (19:39.3), Tyler Barton (20:04.0), Bryan Lakko (20:04.1) and Riley Geenen (21:11.3) also all ran well for Plains in the State B meet, coach Jermyn said.

“Most everyone set new PRs,” he added singling out Russell for her efforts. “Emmy was a little off the pace halfway through but wouldn’t give it up, and ended up breaking 22 minutes for the first time.”

And although John Owen and Cord did not quite realize their goals this time, coach Jermyn said the next time to compete for them will be at the Northwest Regional Championships at the Spokane Polo Grounds Nov. 21, if they are able to secure berths in that meet.

The field for the elite Regional meet is determined by high school results and at-large bids, Jermyn said, adding his terrific twosome are eager to make running amends.

“John and Cord both felt like they could have done better in Billings, like they had kind of an off day,” coach Jermyn offered. “That happens sometimes. We know both have more in them and are eager to show that.”