HHS runners off to a good start

When entering a new season, teams always want to see how their kids compare to other kids across the conference as well as the state.

And competing at the Cut Bank Time Trials this weekend in Cut Bank, the Central A Blue Pony boys and girls cross county teams got a very a good look against some top talent.

No team scores were kept, but both Pony squads performed very well.

"The boys did a pretty good job," Havre High head coach Kyle Fisher said. "For many this was their first cross country race. There was good competition there so we got to see great competition out of the gate. And we wanted to use Cut Bank as a measuring took, and what we've realized is that we need to work on our third mile.

"The girls did awesome this weekend," Fisher added "They did excellent all the way through. I am very proud of the girls and excited for their season."

Kendall Murie was the top finisher for the HHS boys, finishing 12th overall with a time of 17:30. And Marc Klimas was also amongst the top, finishing in the No. 25 spot with a time of 18:33.

"They both did a nice job for us," Fisher said. "Neither of them were satisfied with their times, but they did good and they are looking to move up from there."

Chazley Hulett and Ty Bauer were missing from Friday's action, but the rest of the boys were pretty spread out.

Greg Rhines finished with a time of 19:33 in the No. 49 spot, while Dillon Seely finished with a time of 20:05 (No. 57), Zac Smith finished with a time of 20:24 (No. 62), Derek Van Dessel finished with a time of 40:42 (No. 70), Daniel Hanson finished with a time of 2:07 (No. 79), William Milligan finished with a time of 22:32 (No. 107), Nick Rhines finished with a time of 24:47 (No. 123), Desmond Parker finished with a time of 24:53 (No. 124) and Dustin Seely finished with a time of 27:25 (No.129).

From the boys results, Fisher knows that the Ponies have to work on the third mile. The times were decent for the first race of the season, but this weeks practice will be used to address the issue, working on their track workouts and learning to push themselves through that last mile.

On the girls squad, HHS finished with a pack of six girls near the top of the leader board. And with Katie Christianson being pulled from the race to nurse a minor injury, the Ponies' results may have been even better.

"That hurt a little bit," Fisher said. "But the girls all did a nice job running."

Christianson was leading the HHS pack, but Fisher didn't want to risk further injury with the season just getting underway.

Jacinda Fuller had the best finish for the Ponies, finishing in 22:25 in the No. 23 spot. Trisha Kinsella finished No. 25 also with a time of 22:25, while Brittanee Korb finished No. 28 with a time of 23:13, Shelby O'Neil finished No. 32 with a time of 23:38, Natalie Jeude finished No. 33 with a time of 23:38 and Ashlynn VanVoast finished No. 35 with a time of 23:53.

But the Ponies had 17 girls finish the race on Friday.

Broke Jappe finished with a time of 24:45 (No. 50), Mikell Kinsella finished with a time of 24:47 (No. 51), Lauren Scofield finished with a time of 25:34 (No. 65), Paige Sedahl finished with a time of 25:56 (No. 72), Courtney Bricker finished with a time of 25:59 (No. 74), Dylann Williams finished with a time of 26:50 (No. 84), Maddi Hanson finished with a time of 27:20 (No. 90), Neya Bischoff finished with a time of 28:06 (No. 97), Natacha Messerly finished with a time of 28:38 (No. 103), Julie McKinney finished with a time of 30:00 (No. 111) and Michelle Winchell finished with a time of 30:58 (No. 113).

"Those girls are keeping themselves competitive," Fisher said. "Fighting for those varsity spots. All of them are great runners and with seven spots only (on varsity), it's going to be tough. Everyday of practice is a battle."

The Ponies may have had a small group of kids not running over the weekend due to injury, but they are minor injuries. And since the first race of the season was just time trials, the Ponies didn't want to risk further injury.

HHS will be back in action on Saturday when the Pony boys and girls travel to Malta.