Tracksters set for divisionals

The Havre High track team has gone two weeks without competing in a meet. While that may sound like a problem, Havre coach John Ita said the Ponies should be healthy and ready to compete.

"We're going to be very well rested," he laughed.

Ita said the Havre teams usually take off the weekend before the divisional tournament. This year their last meet was held May 4.

However, numerous meets were canceled during the regular season, and that is cause for concern, Ita said.

"What has hurt us is not having the meets up to this point," he said.

The track teams will leave Friday morning at 8 for Lewistown, the site of the Central A Divisional Meet. The top six placers from each event will advance to the Class A state meet in Missoula May 24-25.

The Havre girls team returns as the divisional champions. The boys finished in third place last season. But it's not the team standings that matter to Ita.

"Place, win or PR (personal record) that's why you go to divisionals. That's why you go to state," Ita said. "The last couple of weeks of the season, that's what it's all about."

Ita said he expects most of the boys' points to come from the running events like the sprints, distances and relays. But points also are needed from the jumpers and throwers if the team wants to win. For the girls team, the points will be more spread out, Ita said.

"Our boys are pretty steady," Ita said. "Our girls are going to have to meet those goals. Those that can win need to win. Those who can place need to place."

Junior Steve Heberly returns as the divisional champion in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. Garrett Watson and Jeff Sprinkle took fourth and fifth place, respectively, in the 1600-meter run. Watson finished third in the 3200-meter run and Sprinkle was fifth. Joey Howland and Jacob Lorang return as placers in the pole vault.

For the girls, Rylee O'Connell returns as a placer in the 200-meter dash, Katie Siebrasse in the 400-meter dash, Alicia Rundquist in the 3200-meter run, Brooke Schwan in the 100-meter hurdles and high jump, Katie Malsam in the javelin, Jayla McPherson in the shot put and discus, and Maureen Porter in the pole vault.

The following are the Havre participants and the events they will be compete in this weekend:

Boys:

110-meter hurdles: Anthony Bonavita

300-meter hurdles: Tyson Parman, Eric Vosen, Joey Howland, Steven Harman, Justin Kegel

100-meter dash: Steve Heberly, Steven Harman, Jared Gabriel, John Harrison, Joey Howland

200-meter dash: Steve Heberly, Scott Robinson, Steven Harman, John Harrison, Anthony Bonavita

400-meter dash: Steve Heberly, Scott Robinson, Curt Leeds

800-meter run: Garrett Watson, Evan Olson

1600-meter run: Garrett Watson, Jeff Sprinkle, Kasey Barsotti, Evan Olson

3200-meter run: Jeff Sprinkle, Kasey Barsotti, Jacob Lorang

400-meter relay: Steve Heberly, Steven Harman, Jared Gabriel, Scott Robinson

1600-meter relay: Steve Heberly, Curt Leeds, Scott Robinson, Garrett Watson

Pole vault: Jacob Lorang, Joey Howland, Mark Benjamin

High jump: Eric Vosen, Anthony Ricci, Anthony Bonavita, Curt Leeds, Scott Robinson

Long jump: Steven Harman, Anthony Bonavita, Justin Kegel, Eric Vosen, Curt Leeds

Triple jump: Justin Kegel, Curt Leeds

Javelin: Buck Christofferson

Discus: Josh Klobofski

Shot put: Josh Klobofski, Buck Christofferson, Travis Westbrook

Girls:

100-meter hurdles: Brooke Schwan

300-meter hurdles: Alicia Overcast

100-meter dash: Rylee O'Connell, Kelsey Smith

200-meter dash: Rylee O'Connell, Kelsey Smith, Alicia Overcast

400-meter dash: Alicia Overcast, Katie Siebrasse, Sherry Winchell, Andee Peterson, Rylee O'Connell

800-meter run: Emily Kostelecky, Heidi Crawford, Kiwako Miyamoto, Andee Peterson

1600-meter run: Alicia Rundquist, Rebecca Hilliard, Emily Kostelecky

3200-meter run: Alicia Rundquist, Rebecca Hilliard

400-meter relay: Kelsey Smith, Alicia Overcast, Brooke Schwan, Rylee O'Connell

1600-meter relay: Katie Siebrasse, Rylee O'Connell, Andee Peterson, Alicia Overcast

Pole vault: Maureen Porter, Kelsey Smith, Sherry Winchell

High jump: Brooke Schwan, Keelie Brandt, Heidi Crawford

Long jump: Kelsey Smith

Triple jump: Sherry Winchell, Keelie Brandt

Javelin: Katie Malsam

Discus: Jayla McPherson, Melissa Haymaker, Kim Collins, Brittany O'Connell, Brittany Callahan

Shot put: Jayla McPherson, Brittany O'Connell, Kim Collins, Melissa Haymaker, Brittany Callahan