MISSOULA The Havre girls cross country team faced some of its toughest competition yet, traveling to Missoula to compete in the Mountain West Classic.
The girls competed against some 4A schools from Washington, as well as top schools from Montana.
Head coach Kim Ray said she was very proud of her team, saying the girls did really well, facing some tough competition.
"My first three runners did awesome," she said, mentioning her top three runners placed in the top 25 percent of all racers.
"Katie really realized this race what her potential could be," Ray said. "She ran phenomenal."
The top five placers for Havre all set personal best times. Jenna Baltrusch came in 18th with a time of 19:26, Alicia Rundquist finished in 20:29 and Katie Siebrasse with 20:43. Maureen Porter came in fourth for Havre (85th overall) with a time of 21:24 and Shannon Newth rounded out the top five with a time of 22:15.
"Shannon is normally our seventh runner," Ray said. "But she really stepped it up this weekend and came in fifth."
Newth was one of five Pony runners who had never seen the Missoula course or a race of that size before. Only Baltrusch, Rundquist and Porter had ever been on the course before Saturday's race.
Coach Ray is asking for volunteers to work the Havre meet Oct. 6, and the Class A Divisional meet on Oct. 13. Workers are needed to set mile markers and help move runners through the shoot at the end of the race, among other things. Workers are asked to be at the meet at 9 a.m. If interested, contact Kim Ray at 265-9619 or Dennis Murphy at 265-6731.
Team scores 1. North Central 60, 2. Kalispell 67, 3. Lewis and Clark 91, 4. Helena Capital 126, 5. Helena 148, 6. Mead 194, 7. Shadle Park 202, 8. Ferris 211, 9. Bigfork 288, 10. Havre 320, 11. Butte 332, 12. Columbia Falls 363, 13. Missoula Hellgate 407, 14. Cut Bank 426, 15. East Valley 442, 16. Polson 473, 17. Boulder 518, 18. Hamilton 524, 19. Anaconda 538, 20. Missoula Sentinel 562, 21. Frenchtown 578, 22. Northwest Christian 600, 23. Missoula Loyola 632, 24. Cascade 693, 25. Deer Lodge 709, 26. Whitefish 719, 27. Thompson Falls 744, 28. Arlee 784
Top 10 1. Zoe Nelson, Kal, 17:51.90; 2. Jamie Geissler, Mead, 18:09; 3. Stephanie Whittaker, N. Cent., 18:25; 4. Laura Hodgson, N. Cent., 18:31; 5. Katie Whittaker, N. Cent., 18:33; 6. Erin Windauer, Kal, 18:41; 7. Ashley Hadway, NW Chris., 18:48; 8. Hannah Ko eske, L&C, 18:50; 9. Allison Squires, Hel. Cap., 18:58; 10. Rachelle Boquist, Shadle, 19:00.
Havre runners 18. Jenna Baltrusch, 19:26; 49. Alicia Rundquist, 20:29; 59. Katie Siebrasse, 20:43; 85. Maureen Porter, 21:24; 109. Shannon Newth, 22:15; 111. Nikki Dibblee, 22:20; 114. Hailey Schnittgen, 22:24.
