In a once-a-year-rarity to run at home in front of friends and family, the Havre High cross country team turned in another outstanding weekend of competition.
Saturday the Central A Blue Ponies hosted the annual Havre Invite on the campus of Montana State University-Northern. And facing a tough fie
ld of competitors, the HHS girls finished second with a score of 48, while the HHS boys finished third with a score of 67. Glasgow took the No. 1 spot for the girls with 30 points, and Browning took the boys No. 1 spot with 47. Lewistown also finished above the Pony boys with 55 points.
“We had most of our kids PR (personal record),” Havre High head coach Kyle Fisher said. “So overall our kids ran great. We always run great at home and I expected them to do that again. When the kids earn a PR, that is all you can ask of them.”
The Blue Pony girls defeated the Glasgow Scotties earlier this season, but got edged out at home on a tough course in high temperatures. But as the Ponies stepped up to the plate, they gave the Scotties a run for their money.
Jess Wiken finished first for the Ponies and No. 6 overall with a time of 19:34:78. And Trisha Kinsella followed as the No. 7 runner overall with a time of 19:39:30, while Katie Christenson, No. 9 overall, finished with a time of 19:50:05, Ashlynn VanVoast, No. 12 overall, finished in a time of 20:14:07, Larissa Price, No. 14 overall, finished in a time of 20:41:93, Chanal Standing Rock, No. 23 overall, finished in a time of 21:36:42 and Kiana Robertson, No. 31 overall, finished in a time of 22:56:99.
“It felt good to finish first for us,” Wiken said. “I was worried about the race because of the heat, but I am just glad that the team did so well. I was happy to finish first, but it was more exciting to see how close the other girls finished behind me.’
The Ponies recorded a pack time of just 1:05, their best pack time of the season.
“All of our girls ran well,” Fisher said. “And facing Glasgow, we know they are a Class B powerhouse and we knew it was going to be a tough day. But our girls came out and ran hard and Glasgow finished ahead of us, but I couldn’t ask anything more out of our girls.”
On the boys side of the field, the Ponies were led by Marc Klimas, No. 3 runner overall, with a time of 16:19:08. And Garrett Aguillard followed just behind Klimas as the No. 4 runner overall, with a time of 16:19:43.
The rest of the Pony boys ran well also, but still need to work on closing the game and shortening their pack time.
Dolan Tuss (No. 15) finished in a time of 17:15:76, while Derek VanDessel (No. 21) finished in a time of 17:29:93, Desmond Fialkesky (No. 27) finished in a time of 17:46:87, Dylan Stewart (No. 35) finished in a time of 18:19:58 and Dillon Seely (No. 38) finished in a time of 18:50:22.
Tuss, VanDessel and Fialkesky did take huge steps forward, finishing in the 17 minute range this weekend.
“It felt great to finish first here in front of our fans,” Klimas said. “I could hear the fans cheering us on and that felt good hearing them while we ran. That really helps when you have that support group of friends, family and schoolmates. I thought that we ran well. Me and Garrett (Aguillard) really ran well to lead, and Dolan (Tuss), Desmond (Fialkesky) and Derek VanDessel really stepped up a lot as well. Our whole team was just really consistent today.”
The No. 3 finish overall wasn’t a bad one for the Ponies, and facing the tough field that they did on Saturday, the Ponies know they have improved a lot this season and will continue t do so.
“We faced Glasgow, Browning and Lewistown and they are tough,” Fisher said. “It was good for our boys though and our one through seven runners keep coming through for us and it is the right time of year for them to be stepping up for us.”
The Ponies return to action Thursday in Helena and Saturday in Browning
Girls Varsity Team Scores
1. Glasgow 30, 2. Havre 48, 3. Lewistown 75, 4. Cut Bank 101, 5. Browning 110, 6. Belt Centerville 176, Frazer N/A, Dodson N/A, Hobson N/A, Malta N/A, Harlem N/A.
Top 30
1. Jami Johnson, GLA, 15:51:32; 2. Josie Braaten, GLA, 18:58:95; 3. Nicole Arnold, MAL, 19:05:35; 4. Rachael Zeiger, GLA, 19:20:99; 5. Dalainy Tedesco, LEW, 19:25:46; 6. Jess Wiken, HAV, 19:34:78; 7. Trisha Kinsella, HAV, 19:39:30; 8. Emma Fewer, GLA, 19:46:16; 9. Katie Christianson, HAV, 19:50:05; 10.; Courtney Gunears, BRO, 20:00:55; 11. Kelly Mcaffery, BEL/CEN, 20:13:49; 12. Ashlynn Van Voast, HAV, 20:14:07; 13. Kaitlyn Poss, LEW, 20:21:56; 14. Larissa Price, HAV, 20:41:93; 15. Amanda Wolff, GLA, 20:47:1216. Ellen Walstad, GLA, 20:53:41; 17. Kayla Hall, BRO, 21:00:16; 18. Espe Battrick, LEW, 21:16:33; 19. Josie Walters, LEW, 21:20:97; 20. Sarah Foster, LEW, 21:21:68; 21. Amanda McDonald, GLA, 21:31:71; 22. Ingrid Stansberry, LEW, 21:32:66; 23. Chanal StandingRock, HAV, 21:36:42; 24. Wendy MadPlume, BRO, 21:42:40; 25. Jo. Lafond, MAL, 21:43:87; 26. Maida Walters, LEW, 22:02:60; 27. Shae Tatsey, BRO, 22:04:95; 28. Rebecca Smith, MAL 22:06:39; 29. Heather Mavencamp, MAL 22:32:08 ; 30. Olivia Carette, CV, 22:40:30.
HHS girls
Jess Wiken 19:34:78; Trisha Kinsella 19:39:30, ; Katie Christenson 19:50:05; Ashlynn Van Voast 20:14:07; Larissa Price 20:41:93; Chanal Standing Rock 21:36:42; Kiana Robertson 22:56:99.
HHS junior varsity girls
Mikell Kinsella 22:00:0; Paige Sedahl 23:42:82; McKenna Barkus 23:44:46; Kayla Berg 25:25:95; Madie Hanson 25:47:23; Shelbi Brough 25:56:42; Neya Bischoff 27:09:46; Jenn Nordgulen 27:30:32.
Boys Varsity Team Scores
1. Browning 47, 2. Lewistown 55, 3. Havre 67, 4. Glasgow 107, 5. Dodson 137, 6. Cut Bank 149, 7. Shelby 204, 8. Belt Centerville 265, 9. Frazer N/A, 10. Harlem N/A, 11. Hobson N/A.
Top 30
1. Emerson Connelly, BRO, 15:35:75; 2. Teran Alaers, LEW, 16:10:91; 3. Marc Klimas, HAV, 16:19:08; 4. Garrett Aguillard, HAV, 16:19:43; 5. Wyatt MadPlume, BRO, 16:32:18; 6. Trei Bulluck, LEW, 16:40:00; 7. Luke Zeiger, GLA, 16:46:06; 8. Daniel Horsman, FRAZ, 16:48:79; 9. Austin Green, GLA, 16:54:33; 10.Branden Shomly, BRO, 16:54:75; 11. Jimmy Martin, DOD, 16:55:54; 12. Emmett DustyBull, BRO, 16:56:65; 13. Ryan McKinney, LEW, 16:57:18; 14. Aidan Stansberry, LEW, 17:13:84; 15. Dolan Tuss, HAV, 17:15:76; 16. Walt Dalbey, GLA, 17:23:27; 17. Markell Blount, FRAZ, 17:24:81; 18. Nick Bear, DODS, 17:27:42; 19. Kert RedCrow, BRO, 17:27:79; 20. Hans Pedersen, LEW, 17:28:93; 21. Derek VanDessel, HAV, 17:29:93; 22. Brenden RunningWold, BRO, 17:30:23; 23. Bridger Estell, HOB, 17:33:52; 24. Austyn Mercer, CB, 17:41:70; 25. Lane Smith, LEW, 17:43:71; 26. Ashton HeavyRunner, BRO, 17:45:37; 27. Desmand Fialkesky, HAV, 17:46:87; 28. Kaz Harwood, CB, 17:48:91; 29. Bridger Sanders, GLA, 17:56:37; 30. Michael Carette, CB, 18:01:13.
HHS boys
Marc Klimas, 16:19:08; Garrett Aguillard 16:19:43; Dolan Tuss 17:15:76; Derek VanDessel 17:29:93; Desmond Fialkesky 17:46:87; Dylan Stewart 18:19:58; Dillon Seely 18:50:22.
HHS junior varsity boys
Marvin Spotted Bird 19:16:08; Nick Rhines 19:45:16; Matt Hanely 20:15:83; Patrick Kinniburgh 20:41:09; Cole Millgan 20:42:89; Dakota Christianson 21:0847; Austin AfterBufalo 21:13:27; Dustin Seely 23:35:36.
