By Kim Staudinger
For the Havre High School girls cross country team, the competition never seems to get easier.
The Blue Ponies, who travel to Belgrade, are once again on the road to compete in a meet featuring mostly Class AA teams. Race time is 9 a.m.
Lewistown, one of the few Class A teams at the meet, will give the Ponies a look at what to expect this year as the Havre girls aim to repeat as state champions.
Jenna Baltrusch, who placed third overall last weekend in Cut Bank, says she looks forward to running against Lewistown.
"Sherry (Winchell) and Alicia (Rundquist) will be right up there, well, right behind Katie Siebrasse and me, so we can show Lewistown that we came back this year as the same team we were from last year," she said.
Baltrusch, who is the team's running leader, said she has set high goals for herself this weekend, but also has goals for the Ponies as a team.
"I would like to bring down my time and break at least 19:50," she said. "I want to be right up there with the AA girls and finish in at least the top 10. As a team, we will definitely place in the top five, probably four overall.
"If we compete at our best, I think we should do real well this weekend," she said.
Baltrusch admits the competition will be tough, but says she sees Havre having another advantage this weekend, which will continue to help throughout the season.
"Everyone on our team really clicks with each other," she said. "We are close like friends and encourage each other during the whole race. We all want each other to do well."
