Pony runners finish second at state

Going into the State Class A cross country meet in Missoula, the Havre High cross country team wanted to come home with a trophy. The Ponies accomplished that goal, but it wasn't the trophy they were looking for.

The Bigfork Eagles placed four runners in the top 10 to capture their third-straight state team title with 72 team points. Havre, on the strength of four runners in the top 20, finished second behind Bigfork with 98 points. Lewistown and Colstrip placed third and fourth, respectively.

Head coach Kim Ray knew coming into the meet that it would take a near-perfect performance to knock off the defending champs. Her team ran the race it needed to, but Bigfork was just too tough to overcome.

"They're a great team," Ray said. "It wasn't like we got beat by someone we've beaten all year. There's a reason they've keep winning the title. They put their top four runners in the top 10. We knew their fifth runner was their weak link and we did what we wanted to do getting all five of our runners across before her. But Bigfork's tough, we tried to chase them down but we came up a little short."

Kaci Calaway and Brooke Andrus finished second and fourth for Bigfork, while the Dalton sisters, Lauren and Lesly, finished ninth and 10th.

Polson's Kasey Harwood won the girls individual time with a 19:11.69.

While Ray and her team were plenty proud of their team finish, several Pony runners weren't as pleased with their individual placing.

Havre failed to place anyone in the top 15 to earn all-state honors. The Ponies' top finisher was junior Amy McLain, who placed 16th in her first state meet with a time of 20:34.17.

"I knew Amy was going to run a good race before the race," Ray said. "She was so calm and doesn't ever seem to get nervous. She just gets on the line and runs. She's so competitive. I thought she did great for her first ever state meet."

Teammate Mandi Nystrom finished just behind McLain in 17th with McKayla Patterson and Shannon Newth in 19th and 20th, respectively.

"Shannon ran a fantastic race," Ray said of her lone senior. "She placed in the 40s last year and this year she finished in the top 20. She went out and ran her best race of the season."

Kelsey Malsam finished in 27th place for Havre's fifth scoring runner while Emily Kostelecky finished in 41st and Kristine Keltgen was 53rd.

"Some of the girls were upset with how they did individually," Ray said. "Some of them felt that they should have competed for an individual medal. But we ran well as a team and we're still coming home with something to show for it. I told them that they have nothing to hang their heads about."

Indeed, according to Ray, it seems that the competition at the state meet get tougher and tougher each year.

"We had 22 full teams this year which is more than we've ever had," Ray said. "And each team seemed to have at least one really good runner. So the competition level was pretty high."

Even though her team had its sight set on a team title, Ray couldn't have been more pleased with how the year went.

"I was really proud of the girls and the way they ran this season," Ray said. "They are great group of girls and are very supportive of each others. There aren't any cliques. I'm lucky to have the girls I have on my team. I hope they know how much I appreciate how hard they worked this year. I couldn't have asked them for anything more."

Fortunately for Ray, the majority of her girls return for next season. She loses only Newth and state alternate Nikki Dibblee to graduation while returning six of her seven runners from this year's state squad. Conversely, Bigfork loses its top four runners to graduation.

"We look really strong for next year," Ray said. "But you never know what can happen til then. I think after this our girls understand what it takes to not only win the team title, but to get an individual medal. And it starts with training and putting the work in during the summertime."

Ray and the cross country team will hold its annual awards banquet along with the Havre High golf team on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the HHS cafeteria.

Team scores

Bigfork 76, Havre 98, Lewistown 113, Colstrip 217, Custer 228, Dillon 267, Libby 270, Belgrade 280, Anaconda 292, Polson 295, Billings Central 295, Browning 317, Columbia Falls 317, Sidney 343, Park 352, Laurel 355, Ronan 359, Hardin 394, Hamilton 402, Frenchtown 467, Whitefish 496, Corvallis 528.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

1. Casey Harwood, Polson, 19:11.69; 2. Kaci Calaway, Bigfork, 19:15.53; 3. Teri Lea McCormick, Billings Central, 19:26.57; 4. Brooke Andrus, Bigfork, 19:30.03; 5. Ashley Bakich, Colstrip, 19:46.79; 6. Jordan Gurgiolo, Hamilton, 19:51.42; 7. Wasewi Shawl, Browning, 19:54.10; 8. Jessa Boehnke, Belgrade, 19:54.57; 9. Lauren Dalton, Bigfork, 19:57.90; 10. Lesley Dalton, Bigfork, 20:02.78. 11. Sanya Rogers, Lewistown, 20:11.45; 12. Ashlene Allred, Corvallis, 20:16.01; 13. Kelsie O'Rourke, Laurel, 20:16.28; 14. Dianna Stanley, Miles City, 20:16.61; 15. Candice Rodriguez, Lewistown, 20:29.13; 16. Amy McLain, Havre, 20:34.49; 17. Mandi Nystrom, Havre, 20:35.20; 18. Cassie Hughes, Libby, 20:46.00; 19. McKayla Patterson, Havre, 20:51.88; 20. Shannon Newth, Havre, 20:52.12; 21. Alexis DiGiovine, Butte Central, 20:53.88; 22. Desiree Marjerrison, Columbia Falls, 20:56.95; 23. Kristen Mantooth, Lewistown, 21:04.19; 24. Rachel Colstrip, Billings Central, 21:05.30; 25. Alisa Ogden, Laurel, 21:05.73; 26. Sarah Becker, Libby, 21:08.44; 27. Kelsey Malsam, Havre, 21:08.67; 28. Lauren Fuglevand, Miles City, 21:09.45; 29. Kalin Andrews, Miles City, 21:19.13; 30. Meghan Keigley, Belgrade, 21:35.56. 31. Kelsey Rosander, Colstrip, 21:38.10; 32. Jenny Hunt, Dillon, 21:42.78; 33. Katie Kohler, Lewistown, 21:45.18; 34. Cristine Miller, Lewistown, 21:45.35; 35. Amy Fullmer, Sidney, 21:47.63; 36. Stephanie Livers, Sidney, 21:48.26; 37. Amanda Luikens, Belgrade, 21:51.94; 38. Ashley Boettger, Lewistown, 21:54.63; 39. Shauna McCracken, Columbia Falls, 21:54.99; 40. Briana Malmquist, Ronan, 21:57.45; 41. Emily Kostelecky, Havre, 21:58.35; 42. Kira Crenshaw, Ronan, 21:59.44; 43. Tara Sebek, Lewistown, 22:00.06; 44. Naomi Kirtley, Dillon, 22:02.09; 45. Kisa Kron, Livingston, 22:02.39; 46. Ingrid Segarra, Whitefish, 22:15.21; 47. Karla Anderson, Anaconda, 22:17.39; 48. Brittany Holom, Miles City, 22:18.30; 49. Amy Kukowski, Colstrip, 22:19.02; 50. Megan Maes, Anaconda, 22:19.81; 51. Jessica Rillema, Dillon, 22:21.74; 52. Ashley McCallister, Bigfork, 22:22.88; 53. Kristine Keltgen, Havre, 22:24.69; 54. Jamie Morgenstein, Bigfork, 22:29.67; 55. Heather Parsons, Browning, 22:31.54; 56. Jennifer Old Crow, Billings Central, 22:31.81; 57. Amanda Vauthier Anaconda, 22:37.93; 58. Mykel Ler, Sidney, 22:40.02; 59. Leslie Patterson, Polson, 22:44.17; 60. Char Old Bull, Hardin, 22:46.19; 61. Tina McLinden, Libby, 22:47.71; 62. Brittany Hader, Columbia Falls, 22:48.46; 63. Alyssa Raney, Livingston, 22:49.68; 64. Renae Schaak, Colstrip, 22:50.77; 65. Annie Diettrich, Frenchtown, 22:56.12; 66. Jordyn Cook, Hardin, 22:58.48; 67. Kathleen Scott, Dillon, 22:58.89; 68. Christa Salomon, Ronan, 23:00.24; 69. Roxanne Duckels, Anaconda, 23:00.96; 70. Hannah Clark, Livingston, 23:06.23; 71. Hollis May, Libby, 23:07.95; 72. Kristen Brady, Colstrip, 23:09.56; 73. Ashlee Walker, Hamilton, 23:13.71; 74. Chandra Calder, Anaconda, 23:16.55; 75. Tanna Bull, Polson, 23:20.59; 76. Marty Ewing, Colstrip, 23:23.61; 77. Bridget Bergin, Sidney, 23:24.73; 78. Sara Moore, Dillon, 23:28.12; 79. Breanna Ortola, Frenchtown, 23:30.08; 80. Samantha Pitts, Polson, 23:31.03; 81. Holly Husted, Dillon, 23:34.20; 82. Erica Tohtz, Livingston, 23:42.84; 83. Etheleen Mountain Sheep, Hardin, 23:43.55; 84. Ruth Bumgarner, Polson, 23:44.11; 85. Caitlin DiGiovine, Butte Central, 23:51.88; 86. Sperry DesRosier, Browning, 23:52.16; 87. Kelsey Hall, Browning, 23:54.77; 88. Sunny Reed, Hardin, 23:55.30; 89. Cerista Turtle, Browning, 23:55.70; 90. Kanden Nelson, Hamilton, 23:56.09; 91. Roxanne BirdRattler, Browning, 23:57.92; 92. Amanda Landsverk, Laurel, 23:58.82; 93. Amanda Campbell, Belgrade, 24:00.41; 94. Eve Xanthopolois, Dillon, 24:04.42; 95. Janna Rozar, Whitefish, 24:07.41; 96. Nellie Lutz, Columbia Falls, 24:09.09; 97. Brittany Maddox, Ronan, 24:09.51; 98. Kristen Haug, Livingston, 24:12.16; 99. Kelsey Kenck, Libby, 24:13.78; 100. Carlissa No Runner, Browning, 24:16.86; 101. Kara Pegram, Billings Central, 24:21.35; 102. Stephanie Woodbeck, Whitefish, 24:29.47; 103. Jessie Taylor, Bigfork, 24:30.27; 104. Sariah Two Leggins, Hardin, 24:31.97; 105. Colleen Dalimata, Columbia Falls, 24:36.72; 106. Rebekah Schaefer, Anaconda, 24:37.91; 107. Alee Ruff, Laurel, 24:38.34; 108. Candace Lange, Frenchtown, 24:39.56; 109. Sam Nelson, Corvallis, 24:40.84; 110. Sam Fife, Frenchtown, 24:42.16; 111. Jessica Dedman, Columbia Falls, 24:45.98; 112. Terry Bryan, Hamilton, 24:50.02; 113. Amanda Armstrong, Frenchtown, 24:50.36; 114. Heather Certain, Miles City, 24:51.74; 115. Kelly Reed, Frenchtown, 24:53.83; 116. Chelsea Old Elk, Hardin, 24:54.93; 117. Blue Eyes Yarlott, Billings Central, 24:56.15; 118. Emily Bouldin, Belgrade, 24:58.57; 119. Felicia Danielson, Ronan, 25:00.01; 110. Kari Mowbray, Polson, 25:04.31; 111. Shayna Williams, Belgrade, 25:05.45; 112. Alexis Anderson, Miles City, 25:36.55; 113. Briana Masters, Anaconda, 25:44.22; 114. Stacy Leake, Belgrade, 25:49.50; 115. Emily Cossitt, Laurel, 25:52.42; 116. Kayla Knight, Whitefish, 25:58.67; 117. Vinnett Jefferson, Hardin, 26:02.32; 118. Sarah Johnson, Hamilton, 26:04.22; 119. Beth Carlson, Livingston, 26:17.75; 120. Laura Shrives, Hamilton, 26:20.87; 121. Kara Howard, Libby, 26:32.95; 122. Hally Oakland, Ronan, 26:34.31; 123. Caitlin O'Brien, Miles City, 26:39.87; 124. Meghan May, Corvallis, 26:43.28; 125. Amanda Nofer, Hamilton, 27:02.82; 126. Erin Lamb, Whitefish, 27:04.38; 127. Kaven Brossman, Libby, 27:12.07; 128. Eileen Babon, Frenchtown, 27:14.63; 129. Anna Goodsell, Corvallis, 28:17.83; 130. Emilee Sanders, Whitefish, 28:29.22; 131. Amanda Clowdus, Whitefish, 28:50.53; 132. Jaylene Swanson, Corvallis, 29:41.06; 133. Yvonne Blaszczyk, Sidney, 30:48.18.