By Tiffany L. Rehbein
One champion gave the No. 1 sign to his coaches, who were perched on the top row and exploded into applause.
Another champion executed a "smartly run race," according to her coach.
A jumper's personal-best leap led to her individual gold medal.
The other state champions are looking to next season, when they all return and will have the opportunity to defend their title.
The Havre Blue Ponies snatched four first-place finishes, one fourth, and one sixth at the State A track and field meet during the weekend at Bulldog Memorial Stadium in Butte.
"We got a few state champions, so that's always kind of nice," Havre head coach John Ita said.
Steve Heberly made his mark in the Blue Pony history books. He was the first Pony to claim an individual state championship in the 100 meters during his freshman year of competition.
"I'm impressed with myself," Heberly said following the race. "I knew it was going to be stiff competition."
Heberly finished the race in 11.12 seconds, setting a personal-best mark. He edged Jovon Fisher of Browning and Damon Woolsey of Lewistown for the win. Fisher had the lead for almost half the race, before Heberly caught him and stretched over the finish line first.
Fisher and Woolsey were ranked as the two fastest Class A sprinters throughout the season and they finished with times of 11.15 and 11.18, respectively on Saturday.
Teammate Brent Finneman, a junior who qualified in trials on Friday, scratched from the race due to injury.
"If Finney had run, he would have won it," Heberly said.
"I felt kind of bad about Brent Finneman," Ita said. "It was wonderful that Steve had so much talent, but all year Brent has worked with him. It was nice that Brent sacrificed the individual medals and that he helped the team get the 400 relay."
The Ponies' Adam Landgraf, Grant Roman, Finneman, and Heberly grabbed the gold in the 400-meter relay with a time of 43.39.
Finneman, the third leg of the relay, scorched the track, giving the Ponies a slight lead at the exchange with Heberly, who capped off the relay.
"Brent pulled away and Steve, he finished hard," Roman said.
The Blue Ponies, who have gone undefeated in the relay against Class A competition this season, gave their all for the win.
"It was pretty nerve-racking," Heberly said. The relay was run prior to his win in the 100 meters. "We just had to get a good lead."
"To win you've got to run your hardest," Landgraf added.
When Jennie Peterson was in 16th place in a field of 18 runners after one lap of the 3,200 meters, a state championship looked dim.
However, the seven remaining laps gave Peterson the opportunity she needed to overcome the field of runners and claim the state crown. The junior won the race with a time of 11:58.06.
"The first lap was really fast," Peterson said. "When the rain started falling, I started running."
Peterson and teammate Jenna Baltrusch, who also qualified for the race, battled a slight drizzle during the run.
"The words state champion bring a half-smile to my face," Peterson said. "It's the time I'm upset with. I was kind of racing against myself."
Peterson finished the race virtually untouched by the competition. Throughout the season, Peterson held the fastest time in the Class A at 11:45.1.
Distance coach Noel Henderson was slightly more optimistic about Peterson's finish.
"I am extremely pleased with the performance," Henderson said. "Jennie's state championship, that made my year, made my season."
Peterson also gathered some points in the 1,600 meters. She placed third with a time of 5:30.37. Peterson, Heberly, and LaShae Michels were the three dual placers for Havre.
Michels leapt into a position for a gold medal in the triple jump. She placed first in the event, jumping 35 feet, two-and-one-half inches on Saturday.
"She is an excellent competitor," Ita said. The junior also placed fourth in the long jump with a jump of 16-8 1/2. "It was nice to get a state champion there."
The Havre boys finished with 21 points, while the girls finished with 30 points.
"If I'm bummed out about anything, it's that the seniors weren't able to get an individual medal," Ita said. "I think we were a really young team and it was a great opportunity for us to gain a lot of experience. Much of this team is coming back. We took a lot of freshmen down there."
Baltrusch, Heberly, Karla McCormick, Brooke Schwan, and Sherry Winchell were the freshmen who participated at the meet.
Jake Dusek, Clif Cunningham, Cara Holmquist, Chris Klobofski, Erin Patera, Jesse Suek, and Tamara Sullins were the seniors who completed their final state meet.
"I wish the seniors could have had a little bit better state meet," Ita said. "They are good quality people and they gave us all they had all year long."
The Eastern Division proved dominant, with Colstrip taking the boys' team title with 76 points and Sidney winning the girls' team title with 78 points. Miles City and Colstrip were runner-up and third place on the girls' side.
BOYS
Team Scores Colstrip 76, Belgrade 72, Polson 67, Lewistown 56 1/4, Browning 42, Whitefish 30, Anaconda 23, Laurel 22, Havre 21, Glendive 20 1/4, Bigfork 16, Butte Central 16, Corvallis 16, Hamilton 14, Hardin 13, Miles City 11, Sidney 6 1/4, Livingston 4, Columbia Falls 1, Libby 1/4.
100 1, Steve Heberly, Hav, 11.12; 2, Jovon Fisher, Bro, 11.15; 3, Damon Woolsey, Lew, 11.18; 4, Trevor Gunlock, Pol, 11.35; 5, Ross Jessop, Cor, 11.38; 6, Kevin Cunningham, CF, 11.55.
200 1, Daman Woolsey, Lew, 22.26; 2, Jovon Fisher, Bro, 22.49; 3, Ross Jessop, Cor, 22.69; 4, Alex Russell, Lau,. 23.02; 5, Alex Maetziod, WF, 23.12; 6, Dave Gates, Ana, 23.19.
400 1, Daman Woolsey, Lew, 49.74; 2, Ross Jessop, Cor, 50.21; 3, Jovon Fisher, Bro, 50.58; 4, Alex Russell, Lau, 50.78; 5, Nathan Steele, WF, 50.88; 6, John Edwards, Har, 50.91.
800 1, Kevin O'Brien, Pol, 1:56.90; 2, Nick Towner, Bel, 2:00.34; 3, Kevin Kovacich, Ana, 2:01.30; 4, Ryan Hegen, Sidney, 2:02.04; 5, Russ Kennedy, Bel, 2:02.34; 6, Blake Stulc, Bel, 2:02.74.
1600 1, Joe Fisher, Bro, 4:26.9; 2, Kevin O'Brien, Polson, 4:32.08; 3, Claude Boiteau, BF, 4:32.55; 4, Dain Engebretsen, Pol, 4:33.41; 5, Eric Miller, GD, 4:33.93; 6, Justin Collins, Sid, 4:36.97.
3200 1, Joe Fisher, Bro, 9:53.38; 2, Claude Boiteau, BF, 10:12.64; 3, Jeremy DePutte, Har, 10:14.41; 4, Eric Devine, Liv, 10:20.98; 5, Eddie Heider, WF, 10:21.58; 6, Matt Ward, Bel, 10:22.61.
110 Hurdles 1, Sterling Small, Col, 14.83; 2, Brandon Sparks, Ham, 15.39; 3, Kevin Criswell, Col, 16.09; 4, Kris Anderson, WF, 16.16; 5, Chase Frize, MC, 16.19; 6, Garrett Smith, MC, 16.26.
300 Hurdles 1, Sterling Small, Col, 38.68; 2, Kris Anderson, WF, 39.21; 3, Brandon Sparks, Ham, 39.28; 4, Kevin Criswell, Col, 39.52; 5, Chase Frize, MC, 40.25; 6, Justin Walker, Bel, 40.32.
400 Relay 1, Hav (Adam Landgraf, Grant Roman, Brent Finneman, Steve Heberly), 43.39; 2, Lew, 43.89; 3, Har, 44.26; 4, Lau, 44.33; 5, WF, 44.39; 6, Ana, 44.43.
1600 Relay 1, WF (Adam Clark, Alex Maetzold, Nathan Steele, Kris Anderson), 3:26.39; 2, Bel, 3:30.46; 3, Lew, 3:32.00; 4, Col, 3:32.13; 5, Lau, 3:34.83; 6, Hav, 3:35.70.
Long Jump 1, Trevor Gunlock, Pol, 22-7; 2, Mike Hanson, Lew, 20-6; 3, David Bowman, Lew, 20-4 1/2; 4, Travis Wiley, Bel, 20-4 1/4; 5, Steven Haman, GD, 20-2 1/4; 6, Kevin Criswell, Col, 20-1 1/2.
High Jump 1, Richard Sanders, Col, 6-7; 2, Tyler McIntyre, BC, 6-7; 3, Torger Myran, MC, 6-4; 4, Trevor Gunlock, Pol, 6-4; 5, Russ Kennedy, Bel, 6-2; 6, Matt Armstrong, Bel, 6-2.
Triple Jump 1, Trevor Gunlock, Pol, 47-0; 2, Tyler McIntyre, BC, 44-3; 3, Ben Gibson, Bel, 43-6; 4, Richard Sanders, Col, 43-5 3/4; 5, Matt Armstrong, Bel, 42-11 1/2; 6, Rodney DePoe, Pol, 42-11.
Shot Put 1, Beau Clark, Bel, 56-3 3/4; 2, Vince Henman, Lau, 54-4 3/4; 3, Jakin Hill, GD, 53-7 1/2; 4, Brian Clausen, Glen, 53-2; 5, Jesse Allen, Lew, 52-4 1/2; 6, Pat Leary, Ana, 50-5 1/2.
Discus 1, Beau Clark, Bel, 171-9; 2, Shane Hensleigh, Col, 156-0; 3, Brian Clausen, GD, 154-7; 4, Jade Small, Col, 149-7; 5, T. J. Middlesworth, BF, 145-6; 6, Brandon Blake, Col, 144-9.
Javelin 1, Seth Jens, Col, 211-5; 2, Mike Estes, Ana, 210-8; 3, Kyle Fehrer, Bel, 190-1; 4, Jonathan Clark, Ana, 186-1; 5, Brad Milam, Bel, 181-10; 6, Paul Steinbeisser, Sid, 180-11.
Pole Vault 1, Trevor Gunlock, Pol, 14-0; 2, Ben Gibson, Bel, 13-6; 3, Nathan Ofstad, Pol, 13-0; 4, Taylor Schindler, Col, 12-6; 5, Mike Estes, Ana, 12-6; 6T, Abe Cuskelly, Lib, Luke Yockim, Sid, David Bowman, Lew, and Adam Vogel, GD, 12-0.
GIRLS
Team Scores Sidney 78, Miles City 65, Colstrip 56 1/2, Bigfork 47, Belgrade 45, Butte Central 34, Whitefish 34, Havre 30, Hamilton 29, Polson 29, Anaconda 27, Columbia Falls 14, Ronan 12, Hardin 11, Glendive 5 1/2, Billings Central 4, Livingston 4, Browning 1, Libby 1.
100 1, Stacey Rehbein, Sid, 12.87; 2, Amanda Christiaens, MC, 12.97; 3, Meagan Bennett, Ron, 13.07; 4, Brianne Downey, Ana, 13.18; 5, Abby Reardon, Ana, 13.34; 6, Camie Hoppe, BC, 13.41.
200 1, Stacey Rehbein, Sid, 25.80; 2, Amanda Christiaens, MC, 26.27; 3, Meagan Bennett, Ron, 26.30; 4, Brianne Downey, Ana, 26.40; 5, Abby Reardon, Ana, 26.77; 6, Jessie Handran, GD, 27.01.
400 1, Jasey Meuchel, Ham, 59.02; 2, Stacey Rehbein, Sid, 59.29; 3, Joanna Goodheart, Col, 59.39; 4, Brianne Schmidt, MC, 59.59; 5, Chelsey Voegele, Bel, 1:00.79; 6, Brianne Downey, Ana, 1:00.89.
800 1, Brianne Schmidt, MC, 2:18.33; 2, Jesse Ballew, Col, 2:20.37; 3, Tara Halpin, WF, 2:21.60; 4, Julia Gilbertson, Ham, 2:21.85; 5, Vanessa Matosich, Ana, 2:23.00; 6, Kala Reid, Col, 2:25.36.
1600 1, Jesse Ballew, Col, 5:14.88; 2, Tara Halpin, WF, 5:29.40; 3, Jen Peterson, Hav, 5:30.37; 4, Eryn Beckman, Col, 5:31.38; 5, Jeri Rafter, Pol, 5:35.17; 6, MacKenzie Sherburne, Bro, 5:35.67.
3200 1, Jen Peterson, Hav, 11:58.06; 2, Eryn Beckman, Col, 11:58.45; 3, Chelsey Lynnes, MC, 12:07.00; 4, Emily Stroebe, BC, 12:21.47; 5, Jill McKiernan, Liv, 12:22.50; 6, Yvonne Bakich. Col, 12:25.80.
100 Hurdles 1, Alyssa Barnett, Bel, 15.91; 2, Ann Stevenson, MC, 16.25; 3, Crystal Hagerman, Sid, 16.28; 4, Laci Haralson, Sid, 16.31; 5, Heather Smith, Sid, 16.51; 6, Kelsey Beirmann, Har, 16.55.
300 Hurdles 1, Alyssa Barnett, Bel, 45.29; 2, Easton Branam, FB, 45.66; 3, Crystal Hagerman, Sid, 46.09; 4, Rebekah Hudson, WF, 46.56; 5, Jessica Johnson, Col, 46.62; 6, Katie McGee, BC, 46.72.
400 Relay 1, Sid (Crystal Hagerman, Jenna Donahue, Leila Ben-Youssef, Stacey Rehbein), 50.29; 2, Ana, 50.43; 3, MC, 50.66; 4, CF, 50.96; 5, GD, 51.03; 6, Col, 51.09.
1600 Relay 1, Ham (Julia Gilbertson, Lacey Eitel, Kristen Whalen, Jasey Meuchel), 4:05.16; 2, Sid, 4:05.86; 3, BF, 4:06.03; 4, Col, 4:07.00; 5, Ana, 4:09.30; 6, MC, 4:11.53.
Long Jump 1, Katie McGree, BC, 17-6; 2, Heidi McGree, BC, 16-9; 3, Ann Stevenson, MC, 16-8 1/2; 4, Lashae Michels, Hav, 16-8 1/2; 5, Lucy McGree, BC, 16-5 3/4; 6, Rosey Meyn, Bel, 16-5 1/2.
High Jump 1, Kelsey Biermann, Har, 5-3; 2, Ann Stevenson, MC, 5-2; 3, Sarah Gagnon, WF, 5-2; 4, Ariell Voegele, Bel, 5-0; 5, Rae Stevenson, Liv, 5-0; 6, Laura Jungst, Lib, 4-10.
Triple Jump 1, Lashae Michels, Hav, 35-2 1/2; 2, Heidi McGree, BC, 34-11 3/4; 3, Kacey Blohm, CF, 34-9; 4, Lucy McGree, BC, 33-10 3/4; 5, Rebekah Hudson, WF, 33-8 1/2; 6, Delphia Moss, Pol, 33 8 1/2.
Shot Put 1, Bree Fuqua, Pol, 46-5: (state record, old record 46-3 3/4 by Kelli Bruner of Billings West in 1988); 2, Megan Johnson, BF, 41-1; 3, Lynn Carver, Bel, 39-5 1/4; 4, Jennifer Teeples, CF, 35-7 1/4; 5, Rachel Morgan, BF, 35 1/2; 6, Britney Williams, Col, 34-10 3/4.
Discus 1, Bree Fuqua, Pol, 148-5; 2, Megan Johnson, BF, 135-0; 3, Lynn Craver, Bel, 133-7; 4, Jenica Farley, Ham, 124-0; 5, Sarah Farber, GD, 122-9; 6, Marcel Siemens, BF, 119-7.
Javelin 1, Jacqui Coryell, Col, 137-0; 2, Tara Barge, WF, 131-2; 3, Nicole Manicke, BF, 131-1; 4, Judy Hewankorn, Pol, 124-10; 5, Kelli Phillip, Ana, 124-4; 6, Lindsay Gill, Ham, 124-3.
Pole Vault 1, Leila Ben-Youssef, Sid, 12-4 (Class A record, old record 12-3 by Ben Youssef in 1999); 2, Kim Iverson, FB, 10-0; 3, Katie Boylan, Bel, 9-6; 4, Nikki Hecker, Sid, 9-6; 5, Melinda Owens, Pol, 9-0; 6T, Mikayla Bauer, Col, and Shay Burman, Glen, 9-0.
