Blue Pony runners race on the road

It was an exciting and productive start for the Havre High cross country teams, with the Blue Ponies taking advantage of opening the season at home.

Now, though, Havre will take to the road, and race away from home for the first time.

Friday, the Blue Ponies will travel to Lewistown for the Fergus Invitational, a meet that should once again feature top Class A, B and C competition.

Yet, Havre, under new head coach Kari Filius, was also already up to the challenges of top competition, when the Ponies hosted teams like Hardin, Lewistown, Browning, Harlem and Glasgow at last Friday's Havre Invite, held at Prairie Farms. In that meet, the Pony girls finished second to Hardin, while the HHS boys were fourth overall.

"It was really nice to compete and see what the kids could do," Filius said. "We have work to do, but I like what I saw."

Havre got standout performances on the girls side from junior Sadie Filius, as well as Emma Gillen, Tamera O'Leary, Loy Waid and Hannah Haslem, who all placed in the Top 20, in what was a very tough girls meet.

On the boys side, the Ponies were paced by Top 20 runs from youngster Caleb Tomac, as well senior leader Dylan Young. Brody Henry and Ethan Durward also raced into the Top 30 for an HHS boys team that is pretty young this season.

Now, with the Havre Invite behind the Ponies, its on the road they go. During this unusual 2020 season, Havre will race at meets in Great Falls, Malta and East Glacier, as well as a second home meet in October. On the contrary, the Ponies will now attend the Helena 7-on-7 this season, or the Mountain West in Missoula, as large-scale meets have either been canceled, or revamped because of the coronavirus. So, while Havre is just getting started, the clock is already ticking on what should be an exciting next two months for the Ponies.

Havre will race in the Fergus Invite Friday morning in Lewistown. Races start at 10 a.m.