Pony harriers finish strong

The Havre High boys and girls cross country teams accomplished in the last week of the regular season.

Thursday in Helena, the Central A Blue Ponies got another chance to run against some of the state's top talent, as well as compete against their entire conference and got to run on the course they will run at state. And once again, both Pony squads turned in good performances. The HHS girls placed No. 19 out of 45 teams with 139 points, and the boys placed No. 23 out 47 teams with 159 points at the Helena 7-on-7 meet.

"Overall I thought they all ran really well today (Thursday)," Havre High head coach Kyle Fisher said. "We got to see the course we are going to run on at state so that was huge for us this weekend. We like where we are sitting right now, and it was just a good day to run."

Running against the conference, the Pony girls finished behind the No. 9 Lewistown Golden Eagles (86) and the No. 15 Browning Indians (123). The Ponies' Larissa Price was pulled from competition midway through the race, but had she finished, Fisher was confident they could have defeated the Indians.

Katie Christianson finished with a time of 21:25. Shelby O'Neil finished with a time of 22:11, while Brittanee Korb finished with a time 22:13 and Trisha Kinsella finished with a time of 22:14. Ashlynn Van Voast finished with a time of 22:35, and Mikell Kinsella finished with a time of 23:26.

O'Neil was the No. 15 runner in the No. 4's race, while VanVoast was the No. 15 runner in the No. 5's race and Mikell Kinsella was the No. 9 runner in the No. 7's race. Price will return to the Ponies' lineup in time for divisionals this weekend.

On the boys side, the Ponies finished fourth in the conference. HHS finished behind the No. 15 Belgrade Panthers (117), the No. 16 Livingston Rangers (128) and the No. 17 Browning Indians (139).

Kendall Murie turned in another solid time, finishing with a time of 17:06. Marc Klimas finished with a time of 18:04, while Dolan Tuss finished with a time of 18:28 and Greg Rhines finished with a time of 18:53. Chazley Hulett finished with a time of 19:48 and Desmond Fialkosky finished with a time of 19:55, while Dillon Seely finshed in 20:52.

"It was a little bit tougher for our kids because we like to pace off of each other," Fisher said. "They had to run individual races today and some of them found that to be a little bit more challenging. But as a group, it was a great day and we are looking forward to divisionals."

Some Pony runners also got a chance to compete in Browning on Saturday. And with Fisher paying very close attention to their times, he is getting a better idea of who he will take as a state alternate for both the boys and girls team.

HHS girls competing in Browning were Courtney Bricker (24:16, 7th), Brooke Jappe (24:34, 12th), Paige Sedahl (26:09, 18th) Darlena Bradley (26:42, 20th) Michelle Winchell (26:59, 22nd), Maddi Hanson (27:26, 26th), Dylann Williams (27:31, 27th), Mariah Zandhuisen (28:29, 33rd), Neya Bischoff (28:45:14, 34th), Lauren Scofield (28:45:49, 35th), and Annie Standing Rock (32:21, last).

And for the boys, it was Derek Van Dessel (20:05, 12th), Daniel Hanson (20:18, 18th), Matt Cole (21:36, 38th), William Milligan (21:56, 39th), Marvin SpottedBird (22:52, 46th), Matt Hanley (23:29, 48th), Nick Rhines (23:59, 51st), Desmond Parker (24:13, 52nd), Austin AfterBuffalo (24:30, 55th) and Dustin Seely (24:36 ,56th).

"Going to state, we take seven kids plus an extra. She (Courtney Bricker) is finding her way and did an excellent job. She has been our number eight and has been getting better and better. And for the boys, Derek Van Dessel did a nice job. He has been in and out of varsity, and right now he is really starting to come on strong for us."

Next up for the Ponies is the divisional meet in Browning on Saturday.

Thursday

at Helena

Havre Individual Results

HHS Boys

Kendall Murie - 17:06; Marc Klimas - 18:04; Dolan Tuss - 18:28; Greg Rhines - 18:53; Chazley Hulett - 19:48; Desmond Fialkosky - 19:55; Dillon Seely - 20:52.

HHS Girls

Katie Christianson - 21:25; Shelby O'Neil - 22:11; Brittanee Korb - 22:13; Trisha Kinsella - 22:14; Ashlynn Van Voast - 22:35; Mikell Kinsella - 23:26; Larissa Price- NA.

Saturday

at Browning

HHS Girls

Courtney Bricker - 24:16 7th; Brooke Jappe - 24:34 12th; Paige Sedahl - 26:09 18th; Darlena Bradley - 26:42 20th

Michelle Winchell - 26:59 22nd; Maddi Hanson - 27:26 26th; Dylann Williams - 27:31 27th; Mariah Zandhuisen - 28:29 33rd; Neya Bischoff - 28:45:14 34th; Lauren Scofield - 28:45:49 35th; Annie Standing Rock - 32:21 last.

HHS Boys

Derek Van Dessel - 20:05 12th; Daniel Hanson - 20:18 18th; Matt Cole - 21:36 38th; William Milligan - 21:56 39th; Marvin SpottedBird - 22:52 46th; Matt Hanley - 23:29 48th; Nick Rhines - 23:59 51st; Desmond Parker - 24:13 52nd; Austin AfterBuffalo - 24:30 55th; Dustin Seely - 24:36 56th.