Back on the HMS Track

With the weather improving seemingly each and every day, it is fitting that the Havre High track teams are finally getting to the meat of their 2015 schedule.

This past Wednesday, the Blue Pony boys and girls teams participated in the Cal Wearley track meet at the Havre Middle School track and will be at the same venue again this Saturday, competing against a lot of the same teams as the host squads in the Havre Invitational. The action will get underway at 9:30 and will last throughout the day.

"Right now we are just such a young team," HHS head coach John Ita said. "So it's just good for kids to get out and compete. It gives them a chance to set a mark and work towards improving it. But also they learn how to warm up, how to stay warmed up and how to get ready to compete. It's all part of the learning process."

Even though both the boys and girls teams are filled with youth, the boys team has slightly more veteran leadership, which has paid off early in the season, especially at the Cal Wearley where the boys captured first-place thanks to an outstanding performance by Nate Rismon. Fellow sprinter Michael Loftus also played a key role as did pole vaulter and sprinter Gunnar Aageson and Ivar Aageson, who competes in hurdles and sprints for the Ponies.

While Havre has gotten little point production out of the throwing events so far this season, the sprints are events that HHS has dominated thus far this season will look to continue to do so with Rismon and Loftus in the 100-meter dash as well as the 200 and the 400. The group of Rismon, Loftus, Jacob LaBrie and Gunnar Aageson have done well in the 400 relay, while Rismon, Loftus, LaBrie and Ivar Aageson have also done well in the 1,600 relay.

"Right now our sprinters are a strong point on our team," Ita said. "We are getting a lot of points out of those events. And our relay teams have done very well. Right now our 1,600 relay team is running around a 3:40 and if we can get that down in the 3:30 range that will be a pretty good time and that's is something that is definitely possible."

On the girls side of things, the Ponies are also getting a lot of their points from the runners, albeit in the longer distance races as Rachel David and Megan Erickson, who each compete in the 400 and 800 have proved capable of being consistent point getters for HHS. Both David and Erickson are also important members of the 1,600 relay team, which has been another productive event in terms of points for Havre.

But, the HHS girls boast athletes capable of scoring points in the sprints and hurdles as well. Naomi Terry has done well in the 100, placing fourth at the Cal Wearly. She also placed third in the 300 hurdles. Freshmen Logan Huebsch has also done well for herself so far this season and placed fourth and fifth in the 100 and 300 hurdles, respectively on Wednesday. Carleigh Rennick is also a proven commodity in the javelin throw and should be able to score points in that event on a regular basis for HHS.

"Our girls are super young with just a couple seniors," Ita said. "But they seem to be growing by leaps and bounds. Now we aren't going to go win a lot of meets because you need lots of juniors and seniors in order to do that. But we just want to get building and getter better for the future."

Both Havre teams should have a chance to do well against a field that will include Malta, North Star, Chinook, Box Elder, Malta, Turner, Harlem and Chester/J-I among others. The first events will begin on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

Lions Havre Invite order of events

9:30 a.m. 300m HURDLES - Boys (Final)

9:30 LONG JUMP - Girls

High jump - Boys

javelin - girls

shot put - boys

pole vault - girls

11:00 a.m. long jump - boys

high jump - girls

shot put - girls

javelin boys

1:00 p.m. triple jump - girls

discus - girls

pole vault - boys

2:00 p.m. triple jump - boys

discus - boys

300m HURDLES - Girls (Final) 3200 m RUN - Boys 3200m RUN - Girls 100m DASH - Boys (Trials) 100m DASH - Girls (Trials) 800m RUN-Boys 800m RUN - Girls 400m RELAY - BOYS (Finals) 400m RELAY - Girls (Finals) 110m HURDLES - Boys (Finals) 100 m HURDLES - Girls (Finals) 100m DASH - Boys (Finals) 100 m DASH - Girls (Finals) 400 m DASH - Boys (Finals) 400 m DASH - Girls (Finals) 1600 m RUN - Boys 1600 m RUN - Girls

200 m DASH - Boys (Finals)

200m DASH - Girls (Finals)

1600m RELAY - Boys (Finals)

1600 m RELAY - Girls (Finals)