Ponies sweep Malta Invite races

The Havre High cross country teams have already shown flashes of greatness this season, and at a very tough invite in Malta, the Blue Ponies did it again.

The Central A Ponies ran in Malta on Friday, and earned a team sweep over the competition. The HHS boys took first place with 42 points, outscoring Glasgow (59), Poplar (124), Plentywood (147), and Rocky Boy (149). And in the girls field, the Ponies took the No. 1 spot with 22 points, outscoring Glasgow (40) and Malta (89).

"It was a good weekend for us all the way through our boys and girls lineups," Havre High head coach Kyle Fisher said. "Being able to run against Glasgow showed us where we are at as a team, and also what we need to work on."

Sundance Lodge gave the Ponies a nice boost this week. He didn't run a week ago, but quickly got comfortable in the varsity lineup with a seventh place finish overall. Lodge finished in 18:52 and was Havre's third best runner. Marc Klimas led the Ponies with a fourth place finish (17:58.56), and Desmond Fialkosky earned a fifth place finish (18:17). Elijah David also had another solid outing and was the Ponies' fifth best runner, running a 19:29, and finishing in tenth place.

"Last weekend we sat (Lodge) out because of an injury," Fisher said. "But this week he came in and ran hard for us. He is a nice addition to our boys team, and now we are starting to see some consistency. He added strength to the team and made a huge impact this weekend in our team score."

Other HHS varsity finishers include Dylan Stewart (20:14:60), Alec Drew (20:14:79), and Derek VanDessel (20:49:47). Nick Rhines (20:51), Branden Robertson (21:12), Dakota Christianson (27:08), and Lance Seely 32:21 qualified for junior varsity.

For the girls, the same group that shined for the Ponies last weekend, shined again in Malta.

Katie Christianson led the way with a No. 1 finish, running a 19:49. Jess Wiken also helped lead the way with a third place finish (20:13), while Trisha Kinsella finished in fourth place (20:30), and Morgan Mazurkiewicz finished in sixth place (21:38). Larissa Price helped round out the top 10 with an eighth place finish, and a time of 22:01.

"Those girls are doing a nice job," Fisher said. "They are going to be battling every week and changing spots, but they are just doing a good job. Katie (Christianson) was our No. 2 last weekend, but was our No. 1 this weekend and won the whole race. She did a really nice job."

Liz Facio with a time of 23:43, and Kiana Robertson, with a time of 23:47 also qualified for varsity. The rest of the runners included Kayla Berg (25:47), Tori Mazurkiewiccz (25:55), Madi Hansen (26:11), Maurissa Dionne (26:44), Janae Barthel (27:09), Brooke LaVAlley (27:21), Neya Bischoff (27:46), Laine Chagnon (27:48), Amber Spraker (27:49), Rachel Majeres (28:25), Sydne Huston (28:36), Raynell Clancy (30:38), Abbi Kolstad (31:01), and Rinah Kinsella (32:31).

Keeping up with their tough schedule, the Ponies will be in competition again this weekend. Friday the Ponies will run in Lewistown.

Malta Invitational

Boys

1. Havre 42; 2. Glasgow 59; 3. Poplar 124; 4. Plentywood 147; 5. Rocky Boy 149.

Top 10 Individuals – 1. Austin Green, Gla, 17:32; 2. Daniel Horsman, Frazer, 17:56; 3. Markell Blount, Frazer, 17:58.41; 4. Marc Klimas, Hav, 17:58.56; 5. Desmond Fialkosky, Hav, 18:17; 6. Nick Bear, Dodson-Whitewater, 18:18; 7. Sundance Lodge, Hav, 18:52; 8. Bridger Sanders, Gla, 19:02; 9. Matthew Phillips, Gla, 19:08; 10. Elijah David, Hav, 19:29.

Havre Finishers

4. Marc Klimas 17:58:56

5. Desmond Fialkosky 18:17

7 Sundance Lodge 18:52

10 Elijah David 19:29

16 Dylan Stewart 20:14:60

17 Alec Drew 20:14:79

19 Derek VanDessel 20:49:47

Junior Varsity

3. Nick Rhines 20:51

4. Branden Robertson 21:12

8. Dakota Christianson 27:08

12 Lance Seely 32:21

Girls

1. Havre 22; 2. Glasgow 40; 3. Malta 89.

Top 10 Individuals– 1. Katie Christianson, Hav, 19:49; 2. Josie Braaten, Gla, 20:06; 3. Jess Wiken, Hav, 20:13; 4. Trisha Kinsella, Hav, 20:30; 5. Amanda Wolff, Gla, 21:01; 6. Morgan Mazurkiewicz, Hav, 21:38; 7. Rachael Zeiger, Gla, 22:00; 8. Larissa Price, Hav, 22:01; 9. Tory Browning, Winnett, 22:06; 10. Emma Fewer, Gla, 22:18

Havre Finishers

1 Katie Christianson 19:49

3 Jess Wiken 20:13

4 Trisha Kinsella 20:30

6 Morgan Mazurkiewicz 21:38

8 Larissa Price 22:01

18Liz Facio 23:43

19 Kiana Robertson 23:47

Junior Varsity

7 Kayla Berg 25:47

8 Tori Mazurkiewiccz 25:55

9 Madi Hansen 26:11

10 Maurissa Dionne 26:44

14 Janae Barthel 27:09

15 Brooke LaVAlley 27:21

16 Neya Bischoff 27:46

17 Lainey Chagnon 27:48

18 Amber Spraker 27:49

19 Rachel Majeres 28:25

20 Sydne Huston 28:36

22 Raynell Clancy 30:38

23 Abbi Kolstad 31:01

24 Rinah Kinsella 32:31