HHS runners show strides in Cut Bank

The Havre High cross-country teams have been working all summer to bring out the best results they can muster at every single meet in this season.

A nice forecast and a motivated group of Blue Ponies at the Cut Bank/Mike Reynold Time Trials ended with some promising results for both teams. The Pony boys team placed seventh and the girls team finished sixth.

Havre Head coach Josh Holt was proud of his teams’ effort and hard work at the meet, but knows there will be some growing pains.

“We have some improving to do,” says Holt. “We should have a solid team come state time.”

The boys team had some great times. Junior Dylan Young would finish with a 17:12.9, senior Cameron Pleninger had a time of 17:34.4, junior Trenton Varney finished in 18:03.8, and Sidney Moffitt would set a season record with a 19:26.1.

Standouts like Cameron Pleninger and Young would run well for the Ponies, leading the team with the fastest times. Others like sophomores Riley Pleninger and Ethan Durward had great times, too. Riley Pleninger would finish with a 19:04.9 and Durward a 19:05.5. Overall, every harrier on the boys team would achieve their personal bests.

Holt enjoyed what he witnessed with the team.

“Our boys team ran extremely well,” said Holt. “We’re way ahead at the start of season this year than we have been in the past five years. There’s still room for improvement.”

The HHS girls team also ran fairly well.

Junior Tamera O’Leary finished with a 22:09.2, sophomore Emma Gillen a 22:09.7, and junior Hannah Haslem ended the run with a 22:40.7. Gillen and freshman Chloe Shennum, who ran a 24:40.7, would both accomplish personal records for the team. The Ponies would also succeed in running season records as well.

Holt was proud of the team but understands there will need to be some adjustments going forward.

“We’re a work in progress,” says Holt. “Our girls ran strong. We’re a little off pace. We have some improving to do and I’m looking forward to our girls improving.”

The Havre teams have set a bar that they will look to surpass in the season. The boys team has a lot of potential moving forward in their season and will hope to place higher in their future meets. The girls team does have some work to do, but the girls show some strong times that can be something to watch in the coming meets.

The Blue Pony harriers will be greatly tested at their next meet in Lewistown, which is known for its hills and scarcely flat course, on Tuesday when the Ponies race in the Lewistown Invitational.