By Tiffany L. Rehbein
With a 1999 state title notched on their running shoes and at least five team titles already this season, the KG KouGar boys' track team appears to be the favorite at the District 9C track meet on Thursday.
The KouGars are loaded with talent in the distance events, with a State Class C cross country title obtained in October.
Eric Hanson is a big-time runner in the 800, 1,600, and 3,200 meters.
Hanson, a senior, is ranked in the top five in the 1,600 meters with a personal-best time of 4:37.5 in the race.
He has a time of 2:04.26 in the 800.
Sophomore Aaron Smith, the individual cross country gold medalist, runs the fastest time in the 1,600 in the Class C. His best time this season is 4:30.3.
Smith also runs the 3,200, where his best time is 9:53.4.
Justin Antonich holds the second-farthest throw in the Class C in the javelin (175-2).
Antonich, a senior, also competes in both hurdle events. He has a personal-best time of 15.49 in the 110 hurdles and a time of 46.15 in the 300 hurdles.
Joey Stuart is a fine jumper for the KouGars.
The junior, is ranked in the top five in the Class C in the long jump with a mark of 20-8.
He is also ranked third in the Class C in the triple jump with a mark of 42-1.
Stuart will also compete in the 300 hurdles. He has a season-fast time of 42.4 which he set at the Top 8 meet at Cascade last week.
Tel Sterner is a threat in the throwing events for KG.
The sophomore has a personal-best toss of 141-8 in the discus, which he set at the Top 8 meet.
Sterner will also compete in the shot put.
Jared Miller should do well in the high jump, pole vault, and both hurdle events.
Miller has a mark of 6-0 in the high jump, and 12-0 in the pole vault, which could place him in the running with the Big Sandy vaulters.
The senior has a time of 16.67 in the 110 hurdles, which he set on the Havre track, and a time of 43.98 in the 300 hurdles.
Eric Marshall should collect some points in the sprints for KG. The senior has a personal-best time of 11.16 in the 100 meters, which he set on the Havre track.
Marshall also has a time of 22.6, which he set recently at the Top 8 meet.
Sophomore Robbie Gomke should also get some points for the KouGars in the throwing events.
Gomke has a mark of 40-2 in the shot put and a mark of 116-3 1/4 in the discus.
Virgil Stewart in the distance events, Roger Larson in the jumps and relays, Matt Aageson in the sprints, Thomas Marshall in the sprints and jumps, and Casey Crites in the sprints and relays should also be remembered in the KG attack.
On the girls' side, Kim Berg is a fine athlete.
Berg, a freshman, is an excellent javelin thrower.
She is second in the Class C behind Carlane Jensen of Chester in the event with a toss of 127-8. With the mark, she is ranked eighth in the state in all classes.
Berg will also compete in the long and triple jump events.
She has a personal-best mark of 15-8 in the long jump, which she set at the Top 8 meet.
Berg also has a mark of 32-6 in the triple jump and a 4-10 mark in the high jump.
Marisa Hanson, Kristin Preeshl, and Ashley Melby could also get some points for the KouGars.
The district meet will be held at the Havre Middle School with the field events kicking off at 10 a.m. on Thursday. The running events are slated to begin at 10:30 a.m.
