George Ferguson
Havre Daily News sports editor
gferguson@havredailynews.com
Heading into the ARM Invitational track meet in Whitefish, the question surrounding both the Havre High girls and Havre High boys track teams was not whether the Ponies were talented enough to compete, but more so whether or not they had enough energy and legs to compete.
But in their fourth meet on the road in just six days, the Ponies answered all tests as the HHS girls finished second to host Whitefish and the Havre boys finished third on Saturday afternoon in Whitefish.
“We knew going down to Whitefish that it was going to be interesting to see whether the kids could compete at the same level they have been over the last week or so,” HHS head coach Mark West said. “All of the kids had very tired legs as we got off the bus down there, and all they did was go out and record personal bests or at least do what they have been doing lately.
“I couldn't be more pleased with how the kids did,” he added. “They all went down there and flat-out competed.”
The HHS girls came dangerously close to upsetting Whitefish on Saturday. The host Bulldogs finished the meet with 116 points while the Ponies came in with 103 points.
Havre got its usual stead performance from Lena Suek. The junior captured the shot put, the discus and the javelin to lead the Ponies in points. Carmen Neuens won the long jump with a final leap of 15-1 and finished second in the high jump. Meridith Hanson also won gold for the Ponies with a scintillating performance in the 3200 meters. Hanson captured the longest distance race with a time of 12:47.62. Hanson also finished fourth in the 1600 meters.
“Meridith Hanson ran a great 3200 on Saturday,” West said. “And Lena Suek had a really nice day against some very good throwers.”
The Ponies also got a big boost from their sprinters despite the weary legs. No HHS sprinter could catch Whitefish's Courtney Ferda who won both the 100 and 200 meters. But the Ponies got a fourth-place finish from Kelsey West in the 100 meters, while Mandy Nystrom finished fourth in the 200 meters and second in the 400.
On the boys side, the Ponies also stayed strong despite being a little fatigued because of all the meets in such a short span.
Havre scored 72 points in the meet, which was just three points behind second-place Columbia Falls. Whitefish dominated its own invitational, scoring a whopping 139 points.
“I couldn't be more pleased with how our boys team did this weekend,” West said. “They came and competed at a very high level despite being really tired.
“A perfect example is a kid like Ryan Horne,” he added. “He goes out and places in both the high jump and the long jump. I was really happy with how all our kids competed.”
Havre's sprinters had a solid day led by Derek Verploegen's second-place finish in the 400 meters. Kyle Finneman placed sixth in the 100 meter and Kyle Rummel was fourth in the 200. Cody McLean also helped Havre's cause with a second-place finish in the pole vault.
Distance runners Robert Brooks, Marcus Campbell and Andy Keim also got the Blue Ponies a host of points on Saturday. Brooks won the 3200 meters and finished third in the 1600 meters. Campbell finished fifth in the 3200 and Keim placed second in the grueling 800 meters.
“Robert Brooks had another great day,” West said. “He has just been running great races every week for us and even though his legs were a little tired, he came out and really performed well on Saturday.
“Again, I just can't say enough about how all our kids competed this weekend,” he added. “This was a big mental test for all of our kids and they exceeded all of our expectations this weekend.”
Some of the Havre High boys and girls will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon at the Top 10 meet in Glasgow. On Saturday, Havre will travel to Lewistown for the Lewistown Invitational.
ARM Invitational
At Whitefish
Boys
Team Totals
Whitefish 139, Columbia Falls 75, Havre 72, Libby 60, Ronan/St. Ignatius 57, Shelby 34, Noxon 28, Superior 24, Plains 17, Eureka 16, Hot Springs 4.
Individual Events
100 - 1. Blake Thacker, SHS, 11.05; 2. AJ Dunn, SUP, 11.10; 3. Taylor Ferda, WF, 11.37; 4. Cody Idol, WF, 11.55; 5. Michael Graham, HAS, 11.58; 6. Kyle Finneman, HAV, 11.59.
200 - 1. Blake Thacker, SHS, 22.61; 2. AJ Dunn, SUP, 22.95; 3. Taylor Ferda, WF, 23.09; 4. Kyle Rummel, HAV, 23.47; 5. Jason Sternad, CF, 23.57; 6. Jeremy Chumley, LB, 24.18.
400 - 1. Chris Hicks, WF, 51.66; 2. Derek Verploegen, HAV, 52.94; 3. Sterling Green, R/SI, 53.30; 4. Austin Troiano, WF, 54.28; 5. Tristin Welter, HAV, 54.71; 6. Tyler Mason, WF, 56.15.
800 - 1. Michael Taylor, CF, 2:09.90; 2. Andy Keim, HAV, 2:10.82; 3, Michael Fisher, R/SI, 2:11.29; 4. Sterling Green, R/SI, 2:11.38; 5. Scott Fretheim, SHS, 2:11.39; 6. Nathan Cole, PL, 2:12.03.
1600 - 1. Michael Fisher, R/SI, 4:39.67 (meet record, old record 4:39.7, Eddie Heider, Whitefish, 2000); 2. Andrew Graham, R/SI, 4:43.00; 3. Robert Brooks, HAV, 4:44.70; 4. Drew Coco, WF, 4:49.76; 5. Andy Keim, HAV, 4:54.00; 6. Jacob Fern, WF, 4:58.00.
3,200 - 1. Robert Brooks, HAV, 10:33.67; 2. Andrew Graham, R/SI, 10:45.00; 3. Drew Coco, WF, 10:51.80; 4. Erick Stedje, R/SI, 11:08.13; 5. Marcus Campbell, HAV, 11:15.43; 6. Jacob Fern, WF, 11:16.00.
110 hurdles - 1. Taylor Ferda, WF, 14.39 (meet record, old record 14.82, Ferda, 2004); 2. Cory Greenwood, LC, 15.85; 3. Cort Rogers, WF, 16.03; 3. Jack Scherman, CF, 16.03; 5. Danial Byrd, CF, 16.36; 6. Bjorn Peterson, WF, 16.76.
300 hurdles - 1. Jack Scherman, CF, 42.27; 2. Cory Greenwood, LC, 42.28; 3. Tyson Lucier, SUP, 44.13; 4. Seth Wiley, WF, 45.90; 5. Jonathan Cameron, WF, 46.33; 6. Porter Nelson, LB, 46.54.
400 relay - 1, Whitefish ‘A' (Colt Idol , Kyle Becker , Chris Hicks , Taylor Ferda ), 45.04; 2. Havre ‘A', 45.73; 3. Shelby ‘A', 45.9; 4. Columbia Falls ‘A', 46.38; 5. Noxon ‘A', 47.68; 6. Ronan-St.Ignatius ‘A', 48.32.
1600 relay - 1. Whitefish ‘A' (Austin Troiano, Kyle Becker, Taylor Ferda, Chris Hicks), 3:35.61; 2. Havre ‘A' 3:35.70; 3. Columbia Falls ‘A' , 3:42.76; 4, Shelby ‘A', 3:50.00; 5. Ronan-St.Ignatius ‘A', 3:50.00.
High Jump - 1. Chris Hicks, WF, 6-06; 2, Tad Singbeil, NOX, 6-02; 3. Jack Scherman, CF, 6-00; 4. Cort Rogers, WF, 5-10; 5. Manny Fisher, HAS, J5-10; 6. Ryan Horne, HAV, J5-10.
Pole vault - 1. Mike Decker, LB, 13-00; 2. Cody McLean, HAV, J13-00; 3. Tanner Ohs, WF, 11-00; 4. Stephan Anderson, CF, J11-00; 5. Porter Nelson, LB, 10-06; 6. Nate Suckow, SUP, 10-00.
Long jump - 1. Chris Hicks, WF, 20-05; 2. Joey Larkin, NOX, 19-06; 3. Kyle Becker, WF, 19-01; 4. Ryan Horne, HAV, 18-10; 5. Tad Singbeil, NOX, 18-08.50; 6, John Hay, NOX, 18-07.50.
Triple jump - 1. Chris Hicks, WF, 45-00.25 (meet record, old record 43-7 3/4, Hicks, 2005); 2. Kevin Boyer, CF, 42-05.25; 3. Joey Larkin, NOX, 40-06.50; 4. Kyle Jangula, CF, 40-03.50; 5. Tony Alvestad, SHS, 39-05.25; 6. Tad Singbeil, NOX, 39-03.50.
Shot put - 1. Richard Brumbaugh, LB, 49-06; 2. Todd Harthan, WF, 48-05; 3. Kyle Baker, LB, 46-04; 4; Brandon Thompson, PL, 45-06; 5. Alan Skogen, R/SI, 44-10; 6. Christian Lehnert, LB, 42-05.
Discus - 1. Keith Catt, CF, 157-03.50; 2. Brandon Thompson, PL, 156-04; 3. Alan Skogen, R/SI, 154-04; 4. Andrew Sweeney, CF, 138-02; 5. Kyle Baker, LB, 136-10; 6. Richard Brumbaugh, LB, 131-04.
Javelin - 1. Richard Brumbaugh, LB, 180-01; 2. Rusty Naccarato, LB, 175-10; 3. Kyle Baker, LB, 172-11; 4. Brandon Thompson, PL, 166-08; 5. Christian Lehnert, LB, 154-08; 6, Jeff Gaston, SUP, 151-06.
Girls
Team Totals
Whitefish 116, Havre 103, Columbia Falls 80, Ronan/St. Ignatius 56, Plains 44, Eureka 32, Noxon 28, Victor 23, Shelby 22, Libby 20, Hot Springs 2.
Individual Events
100 - 1. Courtney Ferda, WF, 12.53; 2. Briana Malmquist, R/SI, 12.92; 3. Karissa Wilson, NOX, 13.07; 4. Kelsey West, HAV, 13.10; 5. Marni Hale, WF, 13.14; 6. Kim Moore, NOX, 13.36.
200 - 1. Courtney Ferda, WF, 26.72; 2. Barb Steward, PL, 27.28; 3. Briana Malmquist, R/SI, 27.43; 4. Mandi Nystrom, HAV, 27.51; 5. Karissa Wilson, NOX, 27.76; 6. Tenille Hennessey, R/SI, 27.87.
400 - 1. Barb Steward, PL, 1:02.08; 2. Mandi Nystrom, HAV, 1:02.40; 3. Melanie Finch, LC, 1:02.98; 4. Jaesika Nelson, LB, 1:03.63; 5. Lauren Kuennen, WF, 1:03.70; 6. Libbie Anderson, WF, 1:05.42.
800 - 1. Brianna Seubert, SHS, 2:25.20; 2. Terinee McCready, R/SI, 2:26.26; 3. Anne Danczyk, WF, 2:39.00; 4. Amanda Potter, SHS, 2:39.50; 5. Tina McLinden, LB, 2:39.80; 6. Kaneesha Benson, R/SI, 2:41.04.
1600 - 1. Beth Donovan, WF, 5:36.60; 2. Jessica Boyer, CF, 5:40.00; 3. Ann Hanson, HAV, 5:48.00; 4. Sarah Blessum, HAV, 5:56.70; 5. Haleigh Skillman, SHS, 5:57.00; 6. Anne Danczyk, WF, 6:00.60.
3200 - 1. Ann Hanson, HAV, 12:47.26; 2. Beth Donovan, WF, 12:59.00; 3. Clare Miller, WF, 13:26.70; 4. Britany Mitcham, VICT, 13:29.43; 5. Janna Rozar, WF, 13:30.00; 6. Mandi Truman, LC, 13:37.00.
100 hurdles - 1. Ashley Ferda, WF, 16.11; 2. Amanda Burrington, VICT, 16.25; 3. Kim Moore, NOX, 16.69; 4. Jade Hansen, WF, 17.44; 5. Hannah Wells, HAV, 17.50; 6. Christa Salomon, R/SI, 20.74.
300 hurdles - 1. Amanda Burrington, VICT, 48.90; 2. Ashley Ferda, WF, 49.63; 3. Kim Moore, NOX, 50.19; 4. Hannah Wells, HAV, 51.07; 5. Trisha Sampson, HAV, 53.47; 6. Ariel Ducote, WF, 55.17.
400 relay - 1. Whitefish ‘A' (Ashley Ferda, Marni Hale, Lauren Kuennen, Courtney Ferda ), 51.17; 2. Havre ‘A'. 51.65; 3. Ronan-St.Ignatius ‘A', 52.19; 4. Columbia Falls ‘A', 53.57; 5. Libby ‘A', 55.74; 6. Noxon ‘A', 56.28.
1600 relay - 1. Whitefish ‘A', 4:23.01; 2. Columbia Falls ‘A', 4:25.00; 3. Ronan-St.Ignatius ‘A', 4:26.90; 4. Libby ‘A', 4:37.10; 5. Shelby ‘A', 4:45.33.
High jump - 1. Kelsey Cable, R/SI, 5-00; 1. Carmen Neuens, HAV, 5-00; 3. Shanelle Swift, CF, 4-10; 4. Jonna Yost, LC, 4-08; 5. Richelle Flagen, HAS, 4-06; 6. Amanda Reinke, HAV, 4-02.
Pole vault - 1. Teresa Byrd, CF, J8-00; 2. Tina McLinden, LB, J8-00; 3. Callie Spencer, CF, J7-06; 4. Eryn Adams, LC, J7-06; 5. Monica Burns, CF, J7-06; 6. Amanda Reinke, HAV, J7-00.
Long jump - 1. Carmen Nevens, HAV, 15-01; 2. Amber Lampman, CF, 14-11; 3. Karissa Wilson, NOX, 14-10.75; 4. Sarah Sturz, CF, 14-04.75; 5. Jylisa Fields, CF, 14-04.25; 6. Libbie Anderson, WF, 14-03.75.
Triple jump - 1. Erin Greiner, WF, 35-00; 2. Amber Lampman, CF, 33-09.25; 3. Kelsey Cable, R/SI, 31-04.75; 4. Stephanie Salomon, R/SI, 31-00.50; 5. Callie Spencer, CF, 30-07.50; 6. Heather Melcer, WF, 30-03.75.
Shot put - 1. Lena Suek, HAV, 33-01; 2. Megan Hannay, LC, 31-07; 3. Samantha Ladenburg, CF, 28-00; 4. Melissa French, PL, 25-11; 5. Kelsey Ladenburg, CF, 25-08; 6. Porsche Erekson, WF, 25-04.
Discus - 1. Lena Suek, HAV, 129-00; 2. Megan Hannay, LC, 106-07.50; 3. Melissa French, PL, 105-07; 4. Samantha Ladenburg, CF, 99-09.50; 5. Porsche Erekson, WF, 95-02; 6. Kayla Wildey, VICT, 87-07.
Javelin - 1. Lena Suek, HAV, 121-09; 2. Allison Kendall, PL, 116-07; 3. Ashton Vulles, PL, 115-10; 4. Amanda Potter, SHS, 111-08; 5. Barb Steward, PL, 105-10; 6. Samantha Ladenburg, CF, 101-05.
