Havre cross country teams run well at Great Falls Invitational

This past Friday, the Havre High cross country teams competed in the Great Falls Invitational down south. It was a different kind of meet with the boys and girls varsity part of the meet each having five races. In its race, the HHS girls team took first while the HHS boys team finished fourth in its race. The course at Anaconda Hills Golf Course had its obstacles, so HHS head coach Erin Lynch liked how the Blue Ponies ran at the meet.

“This course was particularly hard,” Lynch said. “There was a lot of uphill on the course but overall, our girls team in particular did really well. They’ve been working really hard in practice and it shows.”

The HHS girls team competed against Great Falls and Missoula Sentinel in its 5,000-meter race. The Ponies took first with a score of 32 while Great Falls and Sentinel tied with 48 points.

Hailey Gingery once again led the way for the Ponies as she took second with a time of 21:50.99. Close behind her in fourth place was Jayla Meldrum who posted a time of 22:23.45. Clara Haslem finished eighth with a time of 24:06.66.

Many Ponies finished in the middle of the pack to help the Ponies take first in the race. Hannah Kinsella placed 11th with a time of 24:42.80 and right behind her in 12th was Paige Anderson with a time of 25:07.12. Gracie Shandorf took 13th with a time of 25:34.38 and Emily Gulbertson took 16th with a time of 25:56.05.

The HHS boys team ran against Billings Skyview, CM Russell and Glacier in its race. The Ponies finished fourth out of the four teams with a score of 79. Billings Skyview took first with a score of 33 while CM Russell came in second and Glacier finished third.

After missing the previous meet, Caleb Tomac ran well in his return with a time of 17:58.21 to take second. Zack May came in 12th with a time of 19:33.52 and Ezra Goldhahn took 18th with a time of 20:41.33.

Mason Gregoire finished 23rd with a time of 21:38.98 and Brody Henry took 24th with a time of 22:10.20. Dylan Kunz finished 25th with a time of 23:45.12 and Koby Preputin took 26th in the race with a time of 24:36.03.

The schedule will get much busier for the Ponies this week. On Tuesday, the Ponies will head to Lewistown to run in the Fergus County Invitational. They will then compete in the Custer County Invitational in Miles City Saturday. As the Ponies move forward, Lynch believes competing in the Great Falls Invitational will help them over the rest of the week.

“Seeing how we did against these teams on Friday and on that particular course, I think that’s going to serve us really well for our race in Lewistown,” Lynch said. “And then on Saturday, I think it bodes well for us as far as the Miles City meet goes.”

The HHS cross country teams will run in the Fergus County Invitational in Lewistown this Tuesday starting at 10 a.m.

Boys Individuals

Caleb Tomac, 2nd, 17:58.21; Zack May, 12th, 19:33.52; Ezra Goldhahn, 18th, 20:41.33; Mason Gregoire, 23rd, 21:38.98; Brody Henry, 24th, 22:10.20; Dylan Kunz, 25th, 23:45.12; Koby Preputin, 26th, 24:36.03.

Girls Individuals

Hailey Gingery, 2nd, 21:50.99; Jayla Meldrum, 4th, 22:23.45; Clara Haslem, 8th, 24:06.66; Hannah Kinsella, 11th, 24:42.80; Paige Anderson, 12th, 25:07.12; Gracie Shandorf, 13th, 25:34.38; Emily Gulbertson, 16th, 25:56.05.