Pony track teams hit the spring running

Spring is a time of rebirth. After COVID-19 shut down the 2020 spring sports season, sports like track and field will finally be reborn this spring after nearly two years of no play. With its long awaited return, there is excitement in the air.

"It feels great. We're super excited about having large participation numbers," said new Havre head coach Ryan Gatch. "High-caliber athletes that we have here in our Havre community and so real fun to see the show of numbers and the enthusiasm towards track and field."

Despite the two-year break between seasons, Gatch believes that his team will be ready for the season thanks to his athletes being in shape thanks to their participation in fall sports.

"Our students really enjoy participating in all of our sports so being prepared - they prepare in different ways," Gatch said.

There are several seniors on the Pony team who Gatch believes can have successful seasons. Nolan Lotton will compete in the 100 and the 200 while Eli Cloninger will compete in the triple jump, pole vault and long jump. Brock Nystrom will participate in the pole vault, high jump and 100 for the Blue Ponies. Havre will be represented by Joey Byrd in the 100, 200 and javelin. In long-distance sprinting, Dylan Young will compete in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.

On the girls side, Gatch believes that Sadie Filius can compete for a state championship in the girls 300 hurdles. Loy Waid will compete in the 100, 200 and 400 and Hannah Haslem will run the 1,600 and 3,200. The Ponies will also rely on Tamera O'Leary in the 100, 110 hurdles and long jump. Kennedy Hampton looks to have a strong final season in the 100, 200 and long jump.

"The sky's the limit right now for our students," Gatch said.

Gatch believes that his athletes will be successful in several events throughout the season. He is confident in both his boys and girls sprints and jumps. The relay team and men's distance should also be good this season and his athletes should be competitive in the girls hurdles.

There are several meets that Gatch is excited about his team participating in throughout the season. He anticipates their first meet, which will be in Cut Bank this weekend. It will be their first time competing there in a few years as that meet is usually snowed out, so this will give the Ponies an opportunity to begin their season earlier than usual.

"That will be a good measuring stick just to go out and compete," Gatch said. "We're just looking for our students to just have the opportunity to go compete. That way we can get better at what we're doing."

Another meet that Gatch is looking forward to is the Laurel Invite.. Since the state meet will be in Laurel at the end of the season, the Ponies can use the chance to get used to the venue. They also get the chance to compete with Eastern A teams that they will meet again in the postseason.

Havre itself will host three meets during the season so the Pony community will have plenty of chances to watch their athletes compete. The Ponies host the Cal Wearly meet April 7, the Havre Lions meet April 10 and then the Havre Invite May 8.

Looking at his roster heading into the season, Gatch expects his athletes to compete hard and achieve success. However, he also hopes that his team will use the season as an opportunity to grow as people and lead by example.

"My expectation for us is to develop a culture of communication, work habits, increase our athleticism and get us ready to compete for a divisional and state championship," Gatch said. "We got a lot of people in our community that look up to our people and our Blue Pony nation, and then we want to exhibit all the different exemplary characteristics that we want."

The Ponies begin their season in a meet in Cut Bank this Saturday that begins at 9 a.m.