Farmer leads Libby at Mountain West Classic

In the biggest cross country meet in Montana, more than 80 schools from four states competed as the Libby Loggers squads enjoying substantial improvements from last year at the prestigious Mountain West Classic Sept. 19.

Libby junior Capri Farmer turned in a top-10 performance against a field of 421 runners Saturday, highlighting the Loggers’ showing at the Classic at the University of Montana Golf Course.

Farmer finished seventh overall in the varsity girls 5,000-meter race, crossing the line in 18 minutes, 30.6 seconds.

Libby also received a personal-best performance from eighth-grader Kayleigh Desch, who placed 113th in 21:28.2. Junior Alli Clemons was 146th in 22:02.7, followed by senior Hailey Misner in 154th at 22:12.7.

Freshman Ellory Anderson finished 196th in 22:48.5, sophomore Ava Jensen was 268th in 23:50.8 and junior Lillian Bailey rounded out Libby’s varsity girls with a time of 26:10.7. 

The girls team placed fourth in Class A and 17th overall out of 81 teams. Libby was ninth in Class A in the 2025 Classic. Misner and Bailey each had significant time improvements from last year’s race in Missoula while Desch  had a personal record.

Senior Cody Watson paced the Libby boys, placing 44th overall with a time of 16:57.8. The boys field included 461 runners.

Also of note, according to athletic.net, Farmer has the No. 4 best time in Class A that she set Sept. 4 at the Flathead Invitational. Watson’s performance at the Libby Invitational in late August is also ranked as the fourth best time in Class A this season.

Junior Jake Rusdal was the Loggers’ next finisher, taking 176th in 18:34.6, while sophomore Cody Katzer followed in 193rd at 18:41.6. Freshman Micah Peterson finished 220th in 18:57.3.

Eighth-grader Waylon Katzer crossed in 20:29.7 to place 355th, senior Eaddon Baca was 373rd in 20:48.4 and junior Levi Nick finished 407th with a time of 21:45.8.

The boys team was sixth in Class A after an eighth-place finish a year ago. Three runners, Cody Katzer Jr., Jake Rusdal and Eaddon Baca each had substantial improvements from their 2025 race times. 

Troy was represented by a pair of freshmen in the varsity races. Hayden Storkson recorded a personal best in the boys race, finishing 426th in 22:17.2. Isabella Heileson represented Troy in the girls race and finished 312th with a time of 24:12.9.