Local track teams hook up today

It has been a busy start to the season for the Havre High track teams and the hectic early-season schedule continues tonight with the Havre Triangular.

The Blue Ponies, who opened their season by competing in three different track meets in seven days, will be back at it tonight, with their fourth meet since April 2, as HHS will take on Chinook and North Star at the Havre Middle School track today at 3 p.m.

"It has been a brutal schedule for us so far," HHS head coach John Ita said. "So we have been dealing with some injuries and different things like that just trying to get through it. It makes it tough because even though you are competing so much, you still have to find some time to train. So our kids are probably just going to pick one or two of their favorite events and limit it to that. We don't want to push anyone too hard this early in the season."

Both Havre track teams have performed well so far this season as each finished second at last Saturday's Havre Lions Invitational. Yet, as Ita alluded to, both teams have been dealing with their fair share of injured athletes.

On the boys side of things, two of Havre's top runners, Nate Rismon and Michael Loftus have been dealing with injury problems. Rismon has been working his way into action and looked good at the Havre Invite, while Loftus, who performed well in his first two meets of the season, was forced to sit out.

When healthy, Rismon and Loftus are each standouts in both the 100-meter dash and the 200. Loftus and Rismon are also mainstays on the both the 400 and 1,600 relays. Both runners also have the ability to compete in the 400 and Rismon has also placed in the pole vault multiple times already this season.

However, the Ponies have a number of other talented athletes on the boys teams beyond just Rismon and Loftus. Ivar Aageson, who has had some nagging injuries of his own this season, but has excelled in the pole vault, racking up multiple first-place finishes. He also is a key part of the 1,600 relay team, as is Luke Karnuaskas, who does well in the 400, 800, the long relay and the jumping events.

Others who are expected to garner points for the boys in the triangular include Thomas Keith, who placed in all three throwing events this past Saturday; Jacob LaBrie, who has run well in the 400 and long relay this season and Nik Keller, who is always a threat to score points in the jumping events.

Like the Havre boys, the Pony girls have yet to be full strength yet this season but should be close today as Naomi Terry and Rachel David are getting stronger and stronger. Terry, who missed the first two meets of the season, won both the 100 and 200 at the Havre Invite and looked to be healthy for the first time this spring.

In addition to Terry, David is always strong in the distance events, as is fellow senior Megan Erickson. Amelia Beard won the pole vault in her last two outings and should have a chance to do well in that event again, just like Loni Waid, who has placed in the pole vault three times already this season.

In terms of throwers, Havre boasts both Kristen Nash and Jordan Keith, while hurdlers Ireland Coyne and Logan Huebsch have also shown positive signs early on this season.

"Our girls team is looking pretty good," Ita said. "We have a lot of youth, but once we get everyone healthy and some of these younger girls some more experience, we should be pretty salty."

Chinook and North Star each have some talented boys and girls athletes and should give Havre some quality competition. All three schools will compete against each other today at the Havre Middle School track, with the action getting underway at 3 p.m. Havre is off for the weekend.