Big day on the track: 9C meet is Wednesday

While the Havre High track and field teams are done with their home meets for the spring, that does not mean the Havre Middle School Track won't be seeing any more competition. In fact, the venue will be hosting the District 9C Meet this Wednesday. With a shot at divisionals on the line, North Star head coach Brian Campbell expects to see every athlete compete hard.

"The 9C district meet is always filled with good competition. This year will be no exception," Campbell said. "The athletes are pretty used to competing against each other, but the sportsmanship and camaraderie is always high."

At the meet, all eight teams from the District 9C will compete. Over the course of the day, athletes from North Star, Big Sandy, Box Elder, Chester-Joplin-Inverness, Chinook, Fort Benton, Hays-Lodge Pole and Turner will compete to qualify for the Northern C Divisional Meet in Great Falls next week.

On the boys' side, the Fort Benton Longhorns should be the favorites for the 9C title. They are the defending state champions and they have won the last two district championships. If they are going to win their third straight district title, they will need their best athletes to step up.

Dane Byle is a senior and competes in discus and long jump for the Longhorns. This season, he has a personal record of 150-00 in the discus and he has a personal best of 21-02.5 in the long jump.

Devin Bird is another senior for the Longhorns looking to end his career on a strong note. He has been an exceptional runner for Fort Benton in the 200-meter dash, the 400 and the 800. He has a personal record of 23.99 in the 200, a best of 52.95 in the 400 and a best of 2:08.27 in the 800.

The Chinook boys team should also place high at this week's meet. Senior Toby Niederegger has been solid in the high jump for the Sugarbeeters with a personal best of 6-04 this year. Freshman Oliver Standiford has also done well in the high jump this year with a personal best of 6-00.

Campbell expects CJI, North Star and Big Sandy to compete for third in the meet. If either one of these teams wants to place who high, they will need their best athletes to show well Wednesday.

The North Star Knights have some athletes that could do well in the meet. Sophomore Gavin Clawson has done well this year in the shot put and the discus. In the shot put, Clawson has a best of 45-03 and in the discus, he has a best of 136-00. Carter Campbell has also done well for the Knights in the 1,600 and the 3,200. He has recorded a best of 4:59.66 in the 1,600 and a best of 11:27.38 in the 3,200 this spring.

Kyle Harmon has done well in the 100 and the triple jump this season for CJI. In the 100, he has a personal best of 11.72 and he has a best of 40-5 in the triple jump.

On the girls' side, Campbell expects Big Sandy to compete for its first district championship since 2006. He then expects Fort Benton and CJI will compete for second and third. He expects Chinook and North Star to also be in the mix for strong finishes.

On Fort Benton, Cloe Kalanick will look to continue her performance in the discus and shot put this season. She has a best of 124-08.5 in the discus and a personal record of 33-10.5 in the shot put. Jenna Dunham has a solid senior season for Fort Benton in the 200 and the pole vault. She has recorded a best of 26.90 in the 200 and a best of 8-06 in the pole vault.

On CJI's girls team, Tatum Hull is looking to end her senior year strong in the long jump, the triple jump and the hurdles. She has a best of 16-0 in the long jump, a best of 33-11.5 in the triple jump and a best of 16.48 in the 100-meter hurdles.

The Chinook girls team has some athletes that look to perform well Wednesday. Anna Terry has run well in the 1,600 and the 3,200 with a best of 5:54.01 in the 1,600 and a best of 12:35.75 in the 3,200. Hallie Neibauer should also do well in the 400 and the 800 this weekend. In the 400, she has a personal best of 1:02.65 and in the 800, she has a best of 2:31.03 this season.

The North Star girls team will also need its best athletes to step up Wednesday. Rainee Watson has done well in the javelin this season with a best of 106-08. She has also had a strong season in the discus with a personal record of 107-11.

Kaytlyn Domire will look to continue her strong season throwing for the Knights in the shot put and the discus. In the shot put, she has a best of 32-0.25 and in the discus, she has a personal record of 92-04.5.

Another athlete to keep an eye on is Box Elder's Meiyah Sutherland, who will compete in the high jump and the 100 this Wednesday. She has a best of 4-10 in the high jump this spring and she has a personal record of 13.83 in the 100.

This meet should see many competitive events throughout the day. The throwing events such as the discus, the javelin and the shot put should have some of the best athletes in the district competing against one another. Niederegger and Standiford should also compete well against one another in the high jump. With all the athletes competing this Wednesday, whoever wins these events will have earned it.

The District 9C Track Meet will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Havre Middle School Track.