Naegelis hold first ranch run

Growing up on a ranch, Jacob Naegeli has always had a lot of chances to run across his property.

Growing up on a ranch, Jacob Naegeli has always had a lot of chances to run across his property. The college track and cross country athlete has also been running a lot, most of his life in fact, so when given a chance to build his own 5k and 3k run it was natural for him to build it on his parent's ranch.

"I've been wanting to put on a race at a ranch for quite awhile now," says Naegeli. "And I've really wanted to have an obstacle course around here. No one else has put one on, so I figured I might as well do it."

Not only was it a race on a ranch that can pose natural hardships, running through fields and forests, but the obstacles Naegeli mentions put the race in a whole new category.

The course features 20 to 25 log jumps, including one so large that racers had to climb over it, hay bale jumps and creek crossings.

Although many would consider this race a lesson in self-inflicted punishment, 52 racers were enticed enough to compete on Saturday including: runners from Missoula, Kalispell and even as far away as Utah.

Of course, the track was littered with competitors from Sanders County including many high school cross-country members.

Tony Banovich, cross-country coach for Plains High School, made it out to the race on Saturday as says the 5k route was a really big challenge.

Mentioning a hill that he says made him feel like it was straight up one and a half miles into the course, tight paths with "sketchy" footing and humid 80 degree weather, Banovich thought the race was a fun challenge.

"It was all a challenge, but it was a lot of fun," says Banovich.

Despite the challenges either engineered by Naegeli or a natural part of the run, Banovich says the scenery on the course was the highlight.

"The course was great. You're out here in this ranch setting with views of meadows and woods. There are wild daisies out there and you run through the hay fields and a creek crossing that is just spectacular, unbelievable setting. It was great of the Naegeli's to open up the ranch to us for the day," says Banovich.

Although, Naegeli himself came in first place in the 5k he disqualified himself as having too much knowledge over his competitors allowing Adam Peterman of Missoula to take home the prize at 35:49. Carter Montgomery, from Plains followed him with a time of 37:04.

The top woman for the 5k was Renae Stettler of Heron with a time of 47:41.

In the 3k race Mason McClure of Thompson Falls finished first with a time of 14:59. The top woman was Abby Croft with a time of 18:54.