After a less than desirable finish at the state meet last season, both the Havre High boys and girls cross country teams are eager to start a new season.
A year ago, the Central A Blue Ponies took both teams to the state. The boys finished as the No. 8 team and the girls the No. 15 squad. They were excited to make the trip to state, but the program as a whole felt they could have done better.
This season the Ponies will hope for a better finish, and that all starts on Friday when the Ponies compete in the Cut Bank Invitational in Cut Bank.
“With three weeks of practice under our belts we are excited to get out and face some other competition rather than ourselves,” Havre High head coach Kyle Fisher said.
The Cut Bank Invitational is a time trial meet where the Ponies will be tested against some of the state's top talent.
And though the Ponies will focus mainly on the conference rival Browning Indians and themselves, the Ponies will also run against CMR, Great Falls High, Kalispell and a miscellaneous group of Class B and C squads.
“It will be good to run against those kids,” Fisher said. “And we will see where our kids are after those three weeks of training and what we need to work on.”
Last year's roster was made up of young and somewhat inexperienced runners has now become littered with seasoned competitors.
The Ponies return most of their squad on both the boys and girls teams, losing only one runner to graduation, David Jeffery. Kade Barsotti is also missing, but took his athleticism to the football field.
But losing only a handful of runners, the Ponies also brought in a handful of new participants.
Katie Christianson and Ashlyn VanVoast are both new to the girls squad and both former volleyball players. Marissa Price also joins the girls team, while Marc Klimas gave up HHS golf to join the boys team.
And key returners to the roster is Kendall Murie, a two-time All State runner, Dillon Seely and Chazley Hulett.
Mikell Kinsella, Shelby O’Neil, Patricia Kinsella, Brooke Jappe and Brittnee Korb also return to the Ponies. Korb was the top runner for the Ponies last season.
“The girls team is still pretty young,” Fisher said. “But I think this is one of the best girls teams we have seen in a while. Especially since I have been coaching, this is the best girls team I have had. And led by Kendall (Murie), I think we have some good veteran runners on the boys team. They are looking forward to the experience.
“I think we will definitely see a higher place,” Fisher added. “And look forward to placing higher at state than last year on both the girls and boys teams.”
The Lewistown boys and girls should both be favored this season. And the Browning boys have also made for tough competition in the Central A over the years. Both teams graduated some seniors last year, but will still be competitive.
“I think both of our teams will be right in the mix with those two,” Fisher said. “So I think we should be fine.”
The Blue Ponies are hoping to challenge for a top spot in the conference and move up in the state ranks. They are a very well balanced team with solid talent ranging from freshmen to varsity runners on both the boys and girls teams.
And with the season now starting in Cut Bank, the Ponies are eager to get their season started.
“Obviously. with every meet the goal is to go in and compete and place as high as you can,” Fisher said. “But it’s still early enough in the season that we need to be looking at what we need to work on.
“We have a good group of kids and they are working hard,” Fisher added. “I expect them to do well this weekend.”
