Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Brody Henry, Havre High track

The postseason has arrived for the Havre High track and field teams as they will compete in the Eastern A Divisional this weekend. Many Blue Ponies will be looking to convert their regular season success into postseason success, including runner Brody Henry.

"I'm looking forward to hopefully getting on the podium at divisionals," Henry said. "(I look to) PR in the 800 and the mile, hopefully break 4:40 in the mile. That'd be really cool."

In his junior season for the Ponies, Henry runs in the 800-meter dash and the 1,600. He occasionally runs in the 3,200 while also running with the HHS 1,600 boys relay team. While the 800 used to be his favorite event, he has grown to love the 1,600 for the challenge it provides.

"I just like how fast it is and how it's so grueling," Henry said.

Henry has been hitting his stride heading into the postseason. He set a personal record of 2:07.17 in the 800 at the North/East Top 10 earlier this month and he just set a personal record of 4:49.10 in the 1,600 at the Eastern A Twilight this past weekend. The lone time he competed in the 3,200 this season, he posted a finish of 11:39.00 at the Havre Lions Invite last month.

Henry is a runner through and through as the only other sport he competes in is cross country for the Ponies. While many find running to be a chore, Henry sees it as an opportunity to let go of his worries.

"Running is like a stress reliever for me, so whenever I'm stressed out it just really calms me down," Henry said. "Even if I have a bad race, it's just nice being out."

Henry's favorite track memory came last season when he did well at divisionals to qualify for the state meet. In the 800, he qualified after placing ninth with a time of 2:08.25. While he did not place high at state, the fact that he made it as a sophomore gave him confidence to do it again.

"It was just a really good feeling to know that not everybody got that and I did. It made me feel special," Henry said.

Henry and the Ponies will look to qualify for state as they head to Lockwood to compete in the Eastern A Divisionals this Friday and Saturday. Before Henry gets back on the track this weekend, the Havre Daily News got the chance to ask him five questions.

HDN: What do you enjoy about track and field?

Henry: "I just love the people that you meet in cross country and track. As soon as you hit the finish line, you're just giving everybody fist bumps and everybody tells you good job. I just love the camaraderie of it."

HDN: What have you enjoyed about your junior season?

Henry: "I like the competition, especially getting into big meets with more Class A schools and getting to go to the west side of the state where everybody's running super fast."

HDN: What's the hardest part about track and field?

Henry: "I think the mental aspect of it. Your body can do it but I think a lot of times, you limit yourself and your mind. Just knowing that you can do it, I think just understanding that is probably the hardest part."

HDN: When you're out there, what goes through your mind?

Henry: "I like to think about where I am in the race and where I need to work in the race to get better and have a better time. I don't really think about much during the race, just the race itself."

HDN: Do you have a favorite runner?

Henry: "Nick Symmonds. I watch him all the time. In 2012, I watched him run the 800 in the Olympics and even though he didn't win, it was so cool just watching somebody from the U.S. who didn't go to a division one school and just rose to the top."