By Ryan Divish/Havre Daily News Sports Editor/rdivish@havredailynews.com
A week ago, the Lewistown cross country team gave Havre High a bit of a wake-up call, finishing just one point behind the Ponies at the Havre Invitational, serving notice that they would challenge the Ponies at Saturday's Central A Divisional in Lewistown.
Havre answered with a wake-up call of its own, serving notice to the Eagles that if the Ponies run like they're capable of, there isn't a team in the Central A, and maybe the state, who can keep up with them.
HHS dominated the Central A Divisional, placing all five runners in the top 10 and running, by far, its best race of the year to capture its third consecutive Central A title.
"We looked awesome," said head coach Kim Ray. "When I saw all of them coming in towards the finish line, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up."
The showdown between the Ponies and the host Eagles never really materialized as Havre had all five its runners cross the finish line before Lewistown's third runner made it across. It was a dominant performance that Ray knew her team was capable of.
"Their attitude and faces before the race were different," Ray said. "They all wanted to win so badly. This is the first time where we had three runners under 20 minutes. We had all seven of our runners in before Lewistown's fifth runner."
Sophomore Mandi Nystrom continued to run well, picking up a second-place finish behind Browning standout Wasewi Shawl. Fellow sophomore McKayla Patterson finished sixth with a solid time of 19:46 while Kelsey Malsam put together a stunning performance, finishing seventh with a 19:57.
"Kelsey ran the best she ever has," Ray said. "She's finally run to her potential. She went out with that lead group and stayed right with them. It was good to see."
Senior Shannon Newth ran a solid time of 20:04 to finish ninth while junior Amy McLain finished 10th with a time of 20:07.
"We've never had three girls go under 20 this season," Ray said. "Actually, we could have all five girls under 20 because Shannon and Amy were right there."
Havre's two other runners in the varsity race, Emily Kostelecky and Kristine Keltgen, also ran solid races, finishing ahead of almost half the varsity runners.
"To have all seven girls run that well was so exciting," Ray said.
While the Ponies were considered the favorites coming in, the host Lewistown squad had plans to knock off Havre.
"Lewistown thought they were going to beat us," Ray said. "But we ran to win the race. We knew where everybody on our team was at and where all of their runners were at. It was the best race we've ran all season. It was the first time we ran to win as a team."
However, this week's MEA meetings and two days off for students does throw a little wrench into her plans.
"We need to focus on what is important most this week," Ray said. "The two days off could help us in terms of rest. But we can't be out late on Wednesday and Thursday just because there isn't school. This is what we've been working for all year and it should be more important than socializing."
But Ray believes her team understands the importance of resting up for Saturday's meet.
"They want a trophy," Ray said. "They know the need to perform. If we run aggressively and determined like we did this weekend, we will be right there."
Central A divisional
GIRLS
Team scores
Havre 34, Lewistown 60, Dillon 93, Browning 114, Belgrade 126, Anaconda 134, Livingston 172.
Top 20
Wasewi Shawl, Bro, 18:27; Mandi Nystrom, Hav, 19:20; Tessa Boehnke, Bel, 19:30; Alexis DiGiovine, Butte Central, 19:31; Sonja Rogers, Lew, 19:41; McKayla Patterson, Hav, 19:46; Kelsey Malsam, Hav, 19:57; Candice Rodriguez, Lew, 19:59; Shannon Newth, Hav, 20:04; Amy McLain, Hav, 20:07; Katie Kohler, Lew, 20:18; Kristen Mautooth, Lew, 20:27; Naomi Kirtley, Dil, 20:34; Megan Keigley, Bel, 20:43; Jenny Hunt, Dil, 20:54; Jessica Rillema, Dil, 20:56; Karla Anderson, Ana, 21:00; Emily Kostelecky, Hav, 21:16; Kisa Kron, Liv, 21:23; Heather Parsons, Bro, 21:24; Kathleen Scott, Dil, 21:26.
TEAMS (overall position in parentheses)
Havre (34) - 1. Mandi Nystrom (2), 19:20. 2. McKayla Patterson (6), 19:46. 3. Kelsey Malsam (7), 19:57. 4. Shannon Newth (9), 20:04. 5. Amy McLain (10), 20:07.
Lewistown (60) - 1. Sonja Rogers (5), 19:41. 2. Candice Rodriguez (8), 19:59. 3. Katie Kohler (11), 20:18. 4. Kristen Mantooth (12 ), 20:27. 5. Tara Sebek (24), 21:32.
Dillon (93) - 1. Naomi Kirtley (13), 20:34. 2. Jenny Hunt (15), 20:54. 3. Jessica Rillema (16), 20:56. 4. Kathleen Scott (21), 21:26. 5. Sara Moore (28), 21:46.
Browning (114) - 1. Wasewi Shawl (1), 18:27. 2. Heather Parsons (20), 21:24. 3. Sperry DesRosier (22), 22:34. 4. Carlissa No Runner (34), 22:34. 5. Cerista Turtle (37), 22:58.
Belgrade (126) - 1. Tessa Boehnke (3), 19:30. 2. Megan Keigley (14), 20:43. 3. Amanda Luikens (25), 21:35. 4. Amanda Campbell (41) 23:12. 5. Shayna Williams (43), 23:25.
Anaconda (134) - 1. Karla Anderson (17), 21:00. 2. Amanda Vauthier (27), 21:43. 3. Megan Maes (29), 21:50. 4. Chandra Calder (30), 21:53. 5. Roxanne Duckels (31), 21:55.
Livingston (172) - 1. Kisa Kron (19), 21:23. 2. Alyssa Raney (32), 21:59. 3. Enda Tohtz (35), 22:39. 4. Kristin Haug (39), 23:10. 5. Beth Carlson (47), 24:56.
Butte Central (no score) - 1. Alexis DiGiovine (4), 19:31.
Other Havre runners:
Emily Kostelecky 21:16, Kristine Keltgen 21:30
JUNIOR VARSITY MEET
Team Scores
Havre 32, Fergus 42
TEAMS
Havre - Bless Paquette (2) 22:14, Kim Jestrab (3) 22:37; Nikki Dibblee (4) 22:41; Chelsea Small (7) 23:19; Mackenzie Kinna (16) 24:28; Rebecca Hilliard (17) 24:32; Leslie Brodeur (18) 24:43; Megan Toldness (21) 25:05; Chloe Kinna (26) 25:33.
