By Tiffany L. Rehbein
For the first time in history, the city of Havre will host the state Hershey's Track and Field meet.
"It's a very important event for the community," Dave Wilson, event coordinator, said. "Havre gets to host a few state competitions on the high school level, but this draws from a lot of communities who wouldn't necessarily come to Havre for any reason. It's important for us to put on a good, quality meet."
A conflict in Billings, where the meet had been traditionally held, led to its being moved to a different city.
The 23rd annual meet expects more than 350 participants to compete on Saturday, all of whom qualified from their respective local meets earlier in June.
The local meets, coordinated by respective Parks and Recreation Departments, were free of charge and were organized and run by volunteers.
Havre's local meet included the Hi-Line from Chester to Malta, including Rudyard, Inverness, Gildford, Kremlin, Hingham, Chinook, Harlem, Big Sandy, Box Elder, and Havre.
The first place finisher from each town for each event qualified for the state meet.
From the state meet, first-place finishers qualify to be selected to the regional team, which is comprised of a five-state area in the western United States.
A participant is chosen according to their time or distance and by the population of the area.
On average, Montana traditionally has qualified six competitors to the regional team, Wilson said.
Everyone on the regional team receives an all-expense-paid trip to Hershey, Penn., for nationals, which are slated to be held Aug. 9-12.
Although the participants can compete in up to three events at state, they are limited to one event at nationals.
Historically, Havre has sent at least four athletes to the national meet.
In 1982, former Havre resident Steve Blair qualified in the 400 meters.
In 1983, Kathy Jarvis qualified in the 1,500 meters. She placed third in the race at nationals.
Jennifer Patera, a 1992 graduate of Havre High School, attended nationals in both 1984 and 1986. After placing seventh in the standing long jump in 1984, she placed first in the event in 1986.
That win landed her a victory lap with her favorite hero Michael Jordan.
In the early 90s, a young athlete named Loree Payne qualified in the softball throw.
"That says something for our community," Wilson said. "It says their is a potential opportunity."
Last year, Jacque McMaster of Chinook qualified for nationals. The 10-year-old placed third in the standing long jump.
Hope Hedges, competing in the 50 meters, 400 meters, and standing long jump, also has great potential in the 9-10-year-old division.
Mark Larson and replacement Kyle Baltrusch could compete well in the long distance races.
The meet is free of charge and each participant will receive a certificate and a T-shirt. The top eight finishers will receive a ribbon. The meet is run solely on a volunteer effort.
The likes of Butch Marshall, a former MSU-Northern Lights basketball standout, Jason Wirt, a former Havre Blue Pony basketball standout, and Erin Patera and Teri Sherrill, current outstanding athletes at Havre High, have volunteered their time, including other former Hershey track participants and quality athletes.
"Former athletes are thrilled about doing this," Pam Smith, state meet director, said. "One of the biggest keys to putting on a meet like this is the donations."
More than the volunteer time is being donated at this meet.
The National Guard is sponsoring meals and housing for participants and families coming into town.
A barbeque will be held from 5-8 p.m. at the National Guard Armory on Friday, and a pre-meet pancake breakfast will be held on Saturday.
Havre Public Schools has donated the use of the track.
The track crew, including Havre High School Athletic Director Charlie Klimas, and track coaches Noel Henderson and Jim Gabriel, will bring some experience to the track scene.
"Their knowledge will make for a real successful meet," Smith said.
The program was created in 1975 by Dr. Donald Cohen. The first program was held on the playgrounds of Charleston, West Virginia.
In 1976, the program went statewide and a 10-state regional meet was held in 1977.
Hershey Foods Corp. became the first principle sponsor and the first national meet was held in 1978.
The program was designed to allow all age eligible children the opportunity to participate in a fun and enjoyable physical activity.
The mission statement reads: To provide a quality recreation and school program where children have fun and are introduced to physical fitness through basic track and field events such as running, jumping, and throwing.
Age divisions are 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and events range from the 50 meters to the 1,600 meters, standing long jump, and softball throw.
The meet is slated to begin at 9 a.m. The field events will run in conjunction with the running events with no time schedule. The events will run one after another until competition.
Order of Events
Hershey Meet
Age
Sex
Event
11-12
Girls
Softball Throw
11-12
Boys
Softball Throw
9-10
Girls
Standing Long Jump
9-10
Boys
Standing Long Jump
9-10
Girls
50 Meter Dash
9-10
Boys
50 Meter Dash
13-14
Girls
1600 Meter Run
13-14
Boys
1600 Meter Run
9-10
Girls
100 Meter Dash
9-10
Boys
100 Meter Dash
11-12
Girls
100 Meter Dash
11-12
Boys
100 Meter Dash
13-14
Girls
100 Meter Dash
13-14
Boys
100 Meter Dash
9-10
Girls
Softball Throw
9-10
Boys
Softball Throw
13-14
Girls
Standing Long Jump
13-14
Boys
Standing Long Jump
11-12
Girls
800 Meter Run
11-12
Boys
800 Meter Run
13-14
Girls
800 Meter Run
13-14
Boys
800 Meter Run
9-10
Girls
200 Meter Dash
9-10
Boys
200 Meter Dash
11-12
Girls
200 Meter Dash
11-12
Boys
200 Meter Dash
13-14
Girls
200 Meter Dash
13-14
Boys
200 Meter Dash
11-12
Girls
Standing Long Jump
11-12
Boys
Standing Long Jump
13-14
Girls
Softball Throw
13-14
Boys
Softball Throw
9-10
Girls
400 Meter Dash
9-10
Boys
400 Meter Dash
11-12
Girls
400 Meter Dash
11-12
Boys
400 Meter Dash
9-10
Girls
4X100 Meter Relay
9-10
Boys
4X100 Meter Relay
11-12
Girls
4X100 Meter Relay
11-12
Boys
4X100 Meter Relay
13-14
Girls
4X100 Meter Relay
13-14
Boys
4X100 Meter Relay
