HHS track teams hope to make noise

From beginning to end, it doesn't take long to wrap up a spring sports season. And while it seems like local track teams just got going, all that is left are the state meets.

The Havre High boys and girls track teams are one of the many teams preparing for the state meet this weekend. Friday and Saturday, the Central A Blue Ponies will compete in Laurel at the Class A state track meet. On both Friday and Saturday, the field events will begin at 9 a.m. and the running events will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Havre High senior Thurman Holdsclaw launches into the air during the triple jump at a triangular meet earlier this month in Havre. Holdsclaw is part of a strong contingent of Blue Pony boys and girls heading to the Class A state track meet, which runs Friday and Saturday in Laurel. In all, Havre qualified a total of 24 athletes for the state meet, and many have a chance to come home with medals.

And the Class A field has proven to have a tough podium to crack.

When teams find their way to the top, they don't like to give up their position. Corvallis has won three out of the four boys' team titles, while the Corvallis girls have also recorded back-to-back state titles. But programs like Dillon, Billings Central, and Whitefish will also push for team titles this weekend, while programs like Belgrade, Polson, Billings Central, and Whitefish will also push for team titles on the girls' side of things.

"I think Corvallis can run away with the team title for the girls," Havre High head coach Trevor VanCampen said. "And Whitefish has a really nice team for the boys, and I think they will be the team to beat.

"What I am stressing this week for us," VanCampen added. "Is for everybody to get down there, take it all in, and just remember what the state meet feels like. And we really want to build off this state meet for the future. We will lose some key seniors next year, so we want the sophomores and juniors to step up, and we want the freshmen we are taking to get a taste of state as well. This is a good experience, so not only do we want to build from this, we just want the kids to get out there and compete hard, and hopefully surprise some people with their marks and times."

Havre High has a long list of talented athletes, but the numbers aren't quite there to be able to compete for team titles. Last season the Pony boys finished as the No. 15 team with nine points, and the Pony girls finished as the No. 13 team with seven.

A team title may not be a goal this season, but several HHS athletes should look to place near the top of their events.

Thurman Holdsclaw has a chance to place in the pole vault, and depending on how well he vaults, a title is not out of the question. If Holdsclaw can maintain his vaults of around 13-0, he should be in good shape, and if he can step up even more, in the final weekend of his prep career, a spot on the podium could be his to take. Ryne Antley is also coming off of a divisional title in the javelin (160-2), but if the trend continues, Antley will have to throw in the 170 foot range to place in the top six.

Martha Stocker is also right on the brink of being in podium contention in the shot put. Stocker threw over 34 feet last weekend at divisionals, and last year a toss of 34-4 was good enough for sixth place. Stocker has shown consistent improvement this season, and has a very good shot at placing this weekend for the Ponies. Lacey Waid should also shine for the Ponies, her forte being the pole vault. Waid didn't compete at divisionals this season, due to an injury, but had pre qualified for state weeks ago. She has set and broke the HHS school record twice this season, and has the ability to clear 10-0. Only four other Class A girls in the state have cleared at least 10-0, so Waid is also expected to have a very good weekend for HHS.

Anything can happen at the state meet, and it is hard to always predict who is in and who is out of medal contention. The Ponies have a long list of athletes who will compete this weekend, and if they step up and put in their best effort, the effort could pay off in a big way.

Holdscalw will also compete in the triple jump and 100-meter for the HHS boys. Also competing will be Kade Rismon (shot put and discus), Zach Plum (pole vault and long jump), Charlie Christianson (high jump), Thomas Gruber (pole vault), Marc Klimas (3,200) and Gunnar Aageson (pole vault). And for the HHS girls, Stocker will also compete in the discus, while also competing will be Katie Christianson (800, 1,600, and 3,200), Lexy Olson (high jump and 100-meter), Haley Ohm (3,200 and 1,600), Peyton Filius (800-meter), Megan Erickson (800-meter), Jenn Nordgulen (triple jump), Neya Bischoff (javelin) and Skylar Vukasin (high jump).

The boys' short relay is also made up of Jon Faber, Christianson, Nate Rismon and Holdsclaw, while the long relay is made up of Christianson, Dakota Christianson, Brock Ross and Luke Karnauskas. And the girls' short relay team is made up of Waid, Filius, Carissa White and Nordgulen, while the long relay is made up of Rachel David, Erickson, Filius and Vukasin.

"I think we are getting everything out of the kids that we can get right now," VanCampen said. "We have individuals peaking at the right time.

"And I think it takes a year round effort to be able to place at state," VanCampen added. "And if a kid does place, a lot of times I think it is because they are a three-sport athlete, they are dedicated to the events they compete in, and they are dedicated to the weight room in the offseason. That's just what it takes these days, and I think kids are realizing that. The competition is tough at this level, so dedication year round is crucial, whether they are in the weight room, or putting in miles."

The Ponies will compete in Laurel Friday and Saturday at the Class A state track and field meet. The Class C state meet will also be held in Laurel Friday and Saturday.