By Rob Everingham
by Rob Everingham
The Havre Daily News
Wednesday, May 12
Chester and J-I head off to Great Falls on Thursday for the 10C district track meet.
The Coyotes have had a very successful season and are the favorites on both the boys and girls side. Chester has the deepest team in the district and they use it to their advantage.
On the boys side the Coyotes have great strength in the sprints with Brent Riggin, Scott Riggin and Ryan Gagnon. In the middle distances Sean Weinert has seen some success this season. Eric Kleinsasser has been strong all season and after being disallowed from divisionals and state last year will be looking to get to that level this year. Also for Chester is Jeff Graham who has had success in the jumps and hurdles this year. Lance Evans, Brian Schlepp and Bill Novak are other Coyotes who have a chance.
For the Chesters girls team the senior leadership of Carlye VanDyke and Annie Diemert has led the team all year. Michele VanDyke and Jamie Graham have both been very strong this year and still have years to improve. In the distances Hannah Brown has been tough all year.
Chester coach Bill Schlepp said his team has a lot of depth and have to many athletes for other schools in the district to compete with. Schlepp said his athletes have been competing well this year and they should be able to wrap up the district titles. He added that at this point they are just wanting to move as many athletes as possible on to the next level and hopefully on to state.
J-I has not had the numbers this year but they have had a good year non the less. Auston Sutton has been running well in the 1600 meter and 3200 and should be able to advance past districts after making to state last season. Joe Kvernum is also a distance runner for the Rams and should be on the heels of Sutton in both races. Ivan VanDessel has been running the 800 very good this year.
Rams coach Bruce Beaudry said they are looking forward to the district meet. Beaudry said even though they dont have the numbers this year, the one he does have are quality athletes. The one thing Beaudry added is that he expect 100 percent of his team to advance on to the divisional level. Though once there Beaudry said he knows they will face stiffer competition with the great distance runners from KG. Overall Beaudry said it has been a good season with some good athletes.
We are only three in numbers but these athletes as highly ranked in heart, hard work and attitude, Beaudry said.
