April 2010 H av r e D a i ly N e w s www.havredailynews.com 3 Hi-Line teams should thrive on the track this spring George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com Track and field has always been a strength for area high schools on the Hi-Line. And this spring should be no different. Although this is the first spring in four years without Big Sandy superstar Kourtney Danreuther on the track, there is still plenty to be excited about. Danreuther is now competing on the track for the University of Montana after the most decorated career in Class C track and field history. She also helped the Big Sandy Pioneers to four straight Class C state championships, but even without her in the mix, the Pioneers are still a force this season. Big Sandy will have returning state high jump champion Amber Amsbaugh back this season, as well as sprinter Mariah Gullickson. The Pioneers have a strong group of athletes, making them an early District 9C and Northern C favorite yet again. But the 9C has other powers too. the North Star girls will be looked at as a team to beat this season with do-everything stars Sarah Helmbrecht and Britnee Dyrland leading the way. But the Knights have talent from top to bottom with Jordan Spicher and Haylee Anderson to name a few. Despite Big Sandy's success over the last few years, it's the Knights who are the three-time defending 9C champions. Chinook could be North Star's strongest competitor on the girls side. The Sugarbeeters have a host of talented standouts, including hurdler and jumper Kayla Hanson, as well as athletes like sprinter Tia Bower leading the way. On the boys side of the 9C, North Star has captured the last two 9C championships, and is a strong favorite to do so again this year. The Knights return perhaps the best distance runner in Class C in Kellan Warren, as well as standout hurdler Zack Halter. North Star is also strong Havre Daily News/Daniel Horton North Star's Zack Halter (middle) leaps over a hurdle during a 2009 track meet in Havre. Halter returns as one of the top hurdlers in Class C track and field this season, and the Knights are the defending District 9C boys and girls champions. Track and field on the Hi-Line will be strong again this year with great teams from Chinook, Big Sandy, Chester/J-I and Harlem to name a few. in the sprints and the throws, and has the depth to contend for not only a 9C and Northern C title, but a state championship as well. Still, the Knights will be pushed by both Chinook and Big Sandy. The Pioneers have a strong group of throwers led by state qualifiers Blake Brumwell and Taylor Ophus. The Beeters are strong in the sprints and distance races with veterans like Tyler Molyneaux and Dylan MacLean leading the way. Turner should also field a strong boys team this season, although the loss of three-event district champion Taylor Fouts will leave a dent in the Tornadoes scoring abilities. The 9C will be a little thin this season with the departure of Rocky Boy. The Stars and Morning Stars have moved up to Class B and will compete in the Northern B this season. Rocky Boy should be strong in the distance races on the boys side and the throws in both boys and girls track. Hays-Lodge Pole and Box Elder will also field teams in the 9C this season. There's also Chester/J-I. The Hawks compete in the 10C but will be present all season long on the Hi-Line. The C/J-I girls will have to replace four-year star Daina Kolstad, but they should compete well in the distance races, jumps and hurdles. The Hawks also lost some top scorers on the boys side, but do return several young, but talented athletes, making the Hawks formidable in the Northern C on both the girls and boys side. In Class B, the Harlem track teams are also up-and-coming. The Wildcats have standouts on both the boys and girls teams, and should be strong in the District 2B and Northern B this season. There will also be plenty of chances for local fans to see the Hi-Line athletes compete this season. The Havre Middle School Track plays host to the Rocky Boy and Chinook Invitational as well as the annual Cal Wearley Meet, hosted by North Star. The District 9C Track Meet also lands in Havre on May 12. Track: Ponies have strong numbers and depth ■ From Page 1 Seniors Perrodin, DeVries and Beamer add talent and experience for the Ponies. DeVries and Beamer will both throw the Shot Put and Discus for the Ponies, while Perrodin will show his speed in the hurdles. For the girls, Evans and Ceynar will help lead the way as key returners. A year ago Evans shined in the High Jump and Triple jump. She will hope to do the same thing this year, as well as most likely participate in both relays. Ceynar will look to make an impact in the Pole Vault along side the 1600 and both relays. Hellegaard will give the ponies a huge boost in the jumping events. She will participate in the Long Jump, High Jump and Triple Jump for the Blue Ponies. Hellegaard will also most likely join both relay teams. “They (returnees) are the ones that have been competing for us,” Larson said. “I really expect them to flourish this year.” A lot of the returning Pony track and field stars will play key roles in the team's strengths. But there will also be a couple new and younger key participants. The boys strengths lie in the hands of DeVries and Beamer in the Shot Put and Discus events. Perrodin and Kultgen give the Ponies two solid point getters in the hurdles and sprints, as does junior Strickland in the 100 and 200-meter sprints. Senior Jeffery will also add to the ponies strengths in the distance events was he will run both the 1,600 and 3,200-meter races. On the girls side of things, their strength comes in the distance races as well as the jumping events. They have a handful of freshman taking part in the jumps, but Hellegaard will do most of the placing along side Evans. Junior Brooke Jappe will also give the Ponies a big advantage with he abilities in the 1,600 and 3,200- meter races. “Everybody has to fill in,” Larson said. “The main kids are going to go out and compete, but these newer and younger kids have learn from them how to compete. Everybody can pretty much run the same speed, they just have to learn to compete and relax.” And whether it is upper or lower classman, or an experienced or veteran athlete earning the spotlight, both the boys and girls teams have a common goal. They hope to perform well through the regular season and hopefully make a run at a top spot in both the divisionals and state meets. Havre Daily News/Daniel Horton Havre High's Jim Beamer lets go of the discus during the 2009 Havre Lions Invitational. Beamer is part of a strong throwing contingent for the HHS boys track team this season. The Pony boys and girls are under the direction of head coach Roger Larson. “The main goal is to get as many kids to state as we can,” Larson said. “And by doing that, hopefully we can place in the top two or three at divisionals team wise.” Track season is a long one. And in between Cut Bank and the state meet, the Ponies have plenty of time to prepare. And in that time the Ponies have a tough schedule ahead of them, something that will hopefully make them better in the long run. HHS hosts the Class AA CMR Rustlers on April 20. They also travel to Belgrade which is basically a Central A preview on April 24, and travel to Whitefish on May 1 where they will see almost all of the Western A. The Ponies also host a triangular with Class A Lewistown and Class B Malta on May 8. There is also the North Star meet in Havre, and the Lions Invitational hosted by Havre High on April 17. “We are getting some of the bigger schools,” Larson said. “And actually getting to compete against the kids we will probably see at state. I am not worried at all about our schedule, it actually helps us.” This year the Ponies are looking to have a breakout season. They had only two kids qualify for state a year ago and would like to see that number improve immensely. And if the year continues as smoothly as it has gone so far, the Ponies are well on their way. “Like every coach you come into the year with high expectations,” Larson said. “And that’s where I am at. Things are looking good the first couple of weeks, and hopefully things keep going and just get better.” Havre High's season concludes with the Central A Meet May 21-22 in Lewistown and the Class A state meet May 28-29 in Laurel.