Havre High runners ready to race in Malta

Moving into the second weekend of competition, the Havre High cross country teams should see solid improvements on both the boys and girls squads, especially now that the Blue Ponies are competing at full strength.

Last week, the Central A Ponies opened the season running at the Cut Bank Time Trials. Team scores were not kept, but the HHS runners turned in a lot of good times. But more importantly, the Ponies discovered who the seven varsity runners were going to be for both the boys and girls teams moving forward.

With a set varsity lineup, the Blue Ponies are prepared to enter another weekend of good competition. Saturday the Ponies will run in Malta, facing a talented pool of Class A, B, and C schools.

“I would like to see the kids run together more this weekend,” Havre High head coach Darci Heninger said. “And just get their pack times smaller as well. I would also like to see some better individual times this time out. I know a lot of the kids weren’t happy with their times last week, and the weather is supposed to be better, so it should just be a better day to run. Malta’s course isn’t as tough as Cut Bank’s in my eyes either, so personal times should be something we improve on this weekend.”

A main area of focus has been the start and finish of each race.

For the Ponies to turn in standout times, they have to run hard and smart according to coach Heninger. And to maintain proper pace, the importance of a good start and a good finish has also been stressed, telling the HHS harriers that the final mile should be faster than the first mile, utilizing a good kick at the end of each race.

Running for the HHS boys will be Brandon Robertson, Sundance Lodge, Brock Ross, Dylan Stewart, Cameron Knapton and Ethan Smith. And running for the HHS girls will be Morgan Mazurkiewicz, Haley Ohm, Kiana Robertson, McKenna Barkus, Tori Mazurkiewicz and Meggie Zook. The six boys and six girls earned varsity spots last weekend with their top finishes in the team standings, but they will be joined by Peyton Filius, the No. 1 HHS girl, and Elijah David, the No. 1 HHS boy this season.

Neither Filius nor David ran in week one, but are great additions to both squads moving forward.

“I am excited to see them race because I haven’t seen either of them outside of practice yet,” Heninger said. “But the whole team should have a better week, and I always tell them to go out and have fun, but to also use their heads, and compete hard.”

The Ponies will race for the second time this season when they travel to Malta on Saturday.