Hawk harriers run away from smoke in Idaho

It was supposed to be in Libby but ended up being in Bonners Ferry.

The Thompson Falls cross country teams, forced out of the Libby Invitational by heavy wildfire smoke in that area, instead ran in the Bonners Ferry Invitational Saturday.

Liking the only slightly less smoky air of Idaho more than that in Montana, Josey Neesvig and Rachel Ribeiro turned in the best performances for the Hawks, finishing second and fourth in the girls varsity race, with Neesvig clocking 21:55 and Ribeirio crossing the finish line in 24:34.

Freshman Roni Hanks completed the race in 33:10, junior sister Reagan Hanks clocked 36:47 and freshman Pris Sommers 41:17.

In the boys race, Wyatt Griffith completed the course in 22:37 to lead the Hawks, Nick Viera timed out in 24:34, Ben Beauchman 26:24 and Daniel Ryan 31:37.

Now that the smoke has cleared from Montana skies at least somewhat, the Hawk high school runners will compete in the Big Sky Coaches Invitational in Missoula Thursday. Teams from Missoula Big Sky, Hellgate and Sentinel, and Mission, Seeley-Swan, Charlo, Arlee, Darby and Thompson Falls have been invited to attend.

Thompson Falls has 28 runners on the cross country team this season.

The varsity girls are: seniors Ribeiro and Kacey VanZanten; juniors Nicole Ngo and Reagan Hanks; sophomores Neesvig, Izzy Helmer and Megan Baxter; and freshmen Roni Hanks and Sommers.

The varsity boys are: seniors Viera and Nathan Burwig; juniors Beauchman, Ryan and Erik Melendez; sophomores Justin Morgan and Marc Boyd; and freshman Ben Croft.

Ellie Baxter, Kaylei Hinck, Hattie Neesvig, Alex Olesen, Faith Palmer and Madison Toyias are the junior high girls harriers and JJ Fields, Declan Harris, Cael Thilmony and Levi Tolley are the junior high boys out for cross country this season.

Long-time head coach Sarah Naegeli has a new assistant coach this season in Sarah Stover. Former long-time assistant coach Teresa Nelson has returned to school and left the program, but has reportedly gained a new job as an assistant coach in Bigfork this fall.