Blue Ponies run well against tough Eastern A field

The Havre High cross country teams’ state meet in Great Falls is just around the corner, but before that the teams went down to Billings for the Eastern A Fall Classic and put forth good results last Friday.

The Blue Pony boys team placed fifth overall and the girls team placed sixth overall. A good showing among other Eastern A teams always leaves Havre in good spirits.

Havre High head coach Josh Holt was happy to see the effort his teams put forth in the Fall Classic.

“The kids ran well,” said Holt. “We had a lot of personal bests this weekend for our runners. We had some kids put in extremely, extremely good performances.”

There were good performances indeed. The Pony boys team placed two runners in the Top 25 and the entire team placed in the Top 50. The HHS girls team had three harriers in the Top 25 and the girls all placed in the Top 50.

And after weather conditions crashed some of Havre’s meets, the Ponies went down to Billings and gave it their all.

The teams had quite a few standouts from that effort, too.

For the boys team, junior Dylan Young continues to be a great harrier for the Blue Ponies, finishing in seventh place with a 16:35.32. Young has had a tremendous season so far and will be a harrier to look out for at state.

Holt was glad to see Young put forth an awesome effort.

“He ran extremely strong,” Holt said. “All year we’ve been talking about running a 16:30 and he goes out there and runs a 16:35, so we’re right where we need to be with him.”

Another harrier, senior Cameron Pleninger, was the second runner to place in the top 25 for the boys’ team. Pleninger ran a 17:33.41 and took the 23 spot in the race. Pleninger has been another standout athlete among Havre cross country.

The Pony girl’s team made some fantastic efforts in the Fall Classic. Once again, junior Hannah Haslem landed in a good spot in the race in 14 with a 20:48.46. Haslem has been another consistent runner in Blue Pony cross country, often placing in high spots at the end of the race.

Holt was proud of Haslem’s efforts in the race.

“She just went out there and ran so strong this weekend,” said Holt. “We set a goal early in the year and we reached that goal. Pretty excited.”

Other harriers on the girls team gave it everything they had, as well. Junior Tamera O’Leary placed 20th in the race with a 21:58.05 and sophomore Emma Gillen finished 24th with a 22:03.44. Haslem, O’Leary and Gillen all ended the race with a spot in the Top 25, giving the girls team some excellent motivation moving into state.

Overall, Havre’s cross country teams had a blast at the Fall Classic. Both teams made admirable finishes and placed well among the Eastern A. In the end, the teams got to enjoy another race after being dormant for some time. Back out on the course, the Ponies certainly made their coaches proud.

Havre’s next challenge is its state competition in Great Falls, where the teams will look to place well and give it all they have to come home with a victory. Havre has been to the Great Falls course before, so the teams will have a sense of familiarity as they compete.

The Blue Pony harriers hit the course for the Class A state meet Saturday at Eagle Falls Golf Course.

Eastern A Fall Classic

BOYS

Team scores: Lewistown 38, Hardin 42, Park 99, Laurel 125, Havre 136, Billings Central 145, Miles City 172, Glendive 206, Sidney 277

Individuals

Sam Fulbright, Lewistown, 15:57.16; Dylan Wichman, Billings Central, 16:00.26; Quaiden Whiteman, Hardin, 16:17.22; Ryker Melton, Lewistown, 16:27.78; Jalen Robinson, Lewistown, 16:32.15; Keyshawn Rogers, Hardin, 16:34.03; Dylan Young, Havre, 16:35.32; Thomas Hicks, Park, 16:43.73; Trae Hugs, Hardin, 16:47.74; Tayjon Joe, Hardin, 16:49.74; Haden Wilson, Laurel, 16:52.03; Cooper Austin, Miles City, 16:53.37; Logan Wisenbaugh, Lewistown, 16:57.48; Clement Not Afraid, Hardin, 17:00.14; Chance Miller, Lewistown, 17:05.04; Bryson Rogers, Hardin, 17:06.79; Christian Ross, Billings Central, 17:09.36; Bradley Vaughn, Lewistown, 17:11.70; McCrae Wester, Park, 17:15.04; Kevin Shane, Hardin, 17:17.09; Draven Earles, Laurel, 17:26.16; Max Stern, Park, 17:31.82; Cameron Pleninger, Havre, 17:33.41; Andrew Durgan, Park, 17:39.46; Michael de Guzman, Lewistown, 17:41.64

Havre boys: 7, Dylan Young, 16:35.32; 23, Cameron Pleninger, 17:33.41; 34, Trenton Varney, 18:17.62; 35, Paul Bartlett, 18:17.65; 37, Sidney Moffitt, 18:22.77; 41, Ethan Durward, 18:58.26; 43, Riley Pleninger, 19:12.45

GIRLS

Team scores: Hardin 26, Laurel 44, Lewistown 83, Miles City 123, Park 126, Havre 139, Glendive 192, Sidney 232

Individuals

Andria Mourich, Laurel, 19:41.37; Carly Cook, Laurel, 19:49.50; Libby Nedens, Hardin, 19:52.85; Journey Erickson, Hardin, 19:53.12; Marion Hugs, Hardin, 19:54.03; Sophie Nedens, Hardin, 19:59.10; Lauren Taylor, Laurel, 20:01.71; Ivery Fritzler, Hardin, 20:01.91; Ellianna Wester, Park, 20:03.68; Zoe Delaney, Lewistown, 20:13.14; Grace Timm, Laurel, 20:31.18; Kyhlah Two Leggins, Hardin, 20:33.86; Elise Wadle, Park, 20:36.88; Hannah Haslem, Havre, 20:48.46; Jayna Henning, Miles City, 21:13.09; Aspen Montgomery, Lewistown, 21:16.62; Catherine de Guzman, Lewistown, 21:20.13; Toni Wolfname, Hardin, 21:23.86; Cora Pavlovick, Lewistown, 21:45.15; Tamera O'Leary, Havre, 21:58.05; Evelyn Miller, Lewistown, 21:58.66; Natalie Notbohm, Miles City, 22:00.33; Britnee Atkinson, Laurel, 22:01.44; Emma Gillen, Havre, 22:03.44; Annamarie Caruso, Miles City, 22:23.73

Havre girls: 14, Hannah Haslem, 20:48.46; 20, Tamera O'Leary, 21:58.05; 24, Emma Gillen, 22:03.44; 39, Chloe Shennum, 23:47.38; 44, Grace Loftus, 24:29.60; 53, Lilly Taly, 26:42.21.