Havre High runners look to improve times at Fall Classic

With the state meet next week, the Havre High cross country teams hope to be at the top of their game before they head to Missoula. The Blue Ponies will get one more chance to improve their times as they run in the Fall Classic in Hardin this Friday.

"We're looking at shaving more time off of our season bests before heading to the state meet," HHS head coach Erin Lynch said. "It will be the final race of the season for most of our junior varsity kids so we're hoping to see them posting good times there."

The meet in Hardin this weekend will consist of 10 schools. Lynch believes the toughest teams on both the boys and girls sides will be Hardin and Laurel this weekend. She also believes the Lewistown girls team and Miles City boys team should be tough. Other schools the Ponies will run against this weekend include Billings Central, Glendive, Lockwood, Livingston and Sidney.

Many of Havre's top runners will look to end the regular season on a strong note. After recording a personal-best time of 16:31.6 at the Custer County Invitational, Caleb Tomac will look to improve his time before the state meet. Hailey Gingery will also look to finish the season well and try to improve her personal-best time of 20:49.9 that she set in Miles City.

The Ponies should get the chance for personal-best times as their races will be held on the Hardin Golf Course. Since the track will be mostly flat, Lynch expects her runners to finish their races fast.

With this meet set before the postseason, Lynch just wants her runners to focus on their goals by trying to get their times closer to their opponents'.

"Just keep doing what they're been doing," Lynch said. "We've been talking about people from other teams. Who they need to run with and then ultimately beat in the end in order to get our team higher in the standings."

HHS cross country will begin the Fall Classic in Hardin this Friday at 1 p.m.