Libby, Troy athletes post strong marks at county meet

Athletes from Libby and Troy delivered a series of standout performances Thursday at the Lincoln County Track Meet, held under sunny skies at Libby High School. Competitors from both schools stacked up personal bests, event wins and top-three finishes across a full slate of varsity events.

In the sprints, Libby’s Drake Wofford placed third in the 100 meters with a time of 12.40 seconds, just ahead of freshman teammate Aden Parish (12.56). Troy’s Michael Gillespie was close behind in sixth with a 12.80 effort. In the 200 meters, Libby’s Gabe Kosters led local runners in fourth (26.17), followed by Gillespie in fifth for Troy (26.54).

Libby’s Cody Watson and Rowen Sherbo provided solid competition. Watson placed fourth in the 400 meters in 56.29, followed closely by Sherbo (56.38) and Colter Anderson (57.11), both running personal bests. Gillespie added a seventh-place finish in the event for Troy.

Libby showed distance strength in the 800 meters, with Watson taking second in a personal best 2:05.71 and Sherbo coming in third at 2:06.34. Anderson ran to a 2:07.80 for fourth, giving Libby three of the top four finishes. Troy’s Dmitrii Walenter finished fifth in 2:21.38, and teammate Kai Brownell clocked a 2:32.21 personal best.

In the 1,600 meters, Walenter took second for Troy in 5:26.35, just ahead of Brownell’s 5:31.74. 

Libby’s Bridger Moe took control in the hurdles, winning both the 110-meter (20.45) and 300-meter events (51.97 PR). The 300 hurdles saw Moe fend off Eureka’s Kaden Gideon and Benjamin Byers, who finished second and third, respectively.

Libby’s relay squads had strong outings. In the 4x100, the quartet of Wofford, Alex Tomasi, Danny Waletzki and Paul Hilpusch placed second in 48.62. In the 4x400, Libby’s team of Parish, Watson, Anderson, and Sherbo ran 3:46.51.

In the throws, Wofford won the shot put with a personal-best throw of 40 feet, 2.5 inches. Libby’s Quinten Cossins (35-4.5) and Troy’s Conner Powell (34-9.25 PR) followed in the top five. Tucker Morgan added a 31-8 personal best for Libby.

In the discus, Morgan (83-6 PR) led Libby’s contingent in fourth, followed by Powell for Troy (83-4 PR). Cossins (81-0 PR) and Troy’s Daniel Rebo (70-8 PR) also turned in strong marks.

Libby dominated the varsity javelin field, with Tristan Andersen winning at 164-7. Teammates Urijah Bache (124-10 PR), Cossins (116-4), Aden Parish (110-10) and Gabe Kosters (109-6) filled out the top six. Troy’s Powell, Rebo and Aiden Schrader all cracked the top 15.

Andersen also won the high jump, clearing 5-8. Libby teammates Ledger Fortner (5-6 PR) and Tomasi (5-4 PR) followed closely behind, with Kosters in fourth (5-0).

The pole vault saw strong performances from Libby athletes, with Bache, Kosters and Moe all clearing 10 feet to tie for fourth place. Fortner (9-0), Tomasi (9-0 PR), Anderson (8-6), and Watson (8-6 PR) gave Libby a dominant presence in the event.

Fortner claimed victory in the long jump with a leap of 16-8.5, just ahead of Tomasi (16-5 PR). Troy’s Gillespie placed third (16-4.25), while Libby’s Waletzki finished fourth. Tomasi added a second-place finish in the triple jump (33-10.5), followed by Libby’s Isaiah Barks in third (31-5).

On the girls’ side, Libby’s Hailey Misner had a dominant sprint showing, winning the 100 meters in 13.57 and the 200 in a personal-best 27.87. Teammates Alyssa Andersen and Lilly Bailey also placed in the top five in the 100.

Capri Farmer kept Libby’s momentum going in the mid-distance events. She won the 400 in 1:05.29 and took the 800 in a PR of 2:23.16, well ahead of Troy’s Jaylee Meyers, who finished second (2:47.83).

In the hurdles, Bergen Fortner won both the 100-meter (18.03) and 300-meter (52.92) events for Libby. Evalyn Cliff placed third in the 100 hurdles.

Field events featured more Logger wins. Sidnie Thompson was second in the shot put (30-4.5), while Krisign Huff and Selena Schnackenberg added top-10 finishes. Thompson also placed third in the discus with an 88-0 mark, followed by Huff (77-4 PR) and Schnackenberg (69-0).

In javelin, Libby’s Alyssa Andersen won with an 88-7 throw. Thompson placed third (82-2), Huff was seventh (55-10 PR) and Schnackenberg ninth (49-0). Troy’s Slyvia Hofer (63-10 PR) and Jessie Heileson (54-2) were fifth and eighth, respectively.

Fortner also won the girls long jump with a mark of 15-6 and the triple jump at 31-9. Andersen, Cliff, and Bailey filled out the top 10 in long jump for Libby. Cortenie Rogers of Troy placed second in the triple jump at 30-2.5, followed by Libby’s Bailey in fourth.

Libby athletes post strong showing in varsity events at Archie Roe Track Meet

At the prestigious Archie Roe Track Meet, Tristan Andersen led the Loggers with a second-place finish in the varsity javelin, throwing a personal-best 167 feet, 6 inches. The mark was just 16 feet behind the winning distance and added valuable points to Libby’s team total. Andersen also placed seventh in the varsity high jump, clearing 5 feet, 10 inches.

Libby's postseason will be spent in Northwest Montana. The divisional meet will be in Polson May 16-17, and the state tourney will be at Legends Stadium in Kalispell May 22-24.

    Libby's Bergen Fortner clears a hurdle during the Lincoln County Track and Field Meet Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby's Capri Farmer competes during the Lincoln County Track and Field Meet Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby's Cody Watson competed Thursday, May 1, 2025, in the Lincoln County Track and Field meet. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)