High school track and field returns to the Hi-Line

While all eyes will be on the return of area spring sports, local sports of fans should not forget the return track and field teams on the Hi-Line. Class B schools such as Rocky Boy and Harlem will be making their returns while the District 9C will see Fort Benton, North Star, Chester-Joplin-Inverness, Chinook, Hays-Lodge Pole, Box Elder, Turner and Big Sandy compete against one another this season.

According to North Star head coach Brian Campbell, the Fort Benton Longhorns should be the favorites heading into this season after both the boys and girls teams won the district titles last season. After that, Campbell believes there will be good competition between the other 9C schools. As for his team, Campbell believes the North Star Knights will compete hard this spring.

"My expectations for our teams is that the kids will come out with positive attitudes and work hard to improve from day to day," Campbell said. "We have some returning participants that will do well, but we also have quite a young team."

Many athletes across the area should have strong seasons this spring. From Fort Benton, Dan Byle should have a strong year in discus while Cloe Kalanick will be throwing for the Fort Benton girls team this spring. CJI has some good athletes on its boys team with Bryce Kammerzell in the 110-meter hurdles and Adam Grammar in the pole vault.

The Chinook girls team has some strong athletes with Anna Terry in distance runs, Kinley Hamilton in throwing and Hallie Neibauer in the sprints and the middle distance runs. From the Chinook boys team, Toby Niederregger should have another strong season in the high jump.

Eva Wagoner from Big Sandy should have a strong year in the hurdles. From the North Star girls team, Campbell expects Rainee Watson and Kaytlyn Domire to throw well for the Knights this season. Gavin Clawson should have a good year throwing for the North Star boys team this season.

The 9C schools will have many meets throughout the season. But the one that Campbell looks forward to the most is the Cal Wearley Memorial right here in Havre next Wednesday. Along with all the 9C schools competing there, other schools at this meet include Rocky Boy, Harlem and Havre.

Harlem, Rocky Boy and the 9C schools will compete in many meets over the course of the spring. The 9C schools will compete in their district meet right here in Havre early in May. Athletes from the 9C will hope to be playing in the Northern C Divisional meet in Great Falls. The Class B-C state meet will then take place in Great Falls to end the season.

As the track and field season gets going on the Hi-Line, all the local schools look forward to the competition. But Campbell knows there is more to the sport than competing as he also looks forward to spending time with old friends and making new ones along the way.

"The relationships that are developed between the coaches and the athletes in this area are special," Campbell said. "We get to spend time outside competing together and I enjoy the camaraderie."

All area schools will begin their seasons this weekend. They will all then compete in the Cal Wearley Memorial next Wednesday at the Havre Middle School Track.