Malta State performers may miss senior season

2020 has presented high school spring sports athletes around the country with a huge obstacle; will they compete this season?

The Montana High School Sports Association postponed the high school spring sports season on Monday, March 16, to coincide with Montana Governor Steve Bullock's announcement to close schools during the COVID-19 virus pandemic.

The Malta Mustang and M-ette Track teams were originally scheduled to compete in their third track meet of the season but the season is in doubt with the threat of the virus, so the PCN reached out to seniors that have competed at the State B meet in previous seasons. In all, Malta has five seniors this season, four of which have competed at the State B Track Meet in the past.

Kelbee Denham was on track to make her return to the sport after missing last season with a knee injury. Denham made state in her freshman and sophomore seasons, setting a personal best of 19.10 seconds in the 100 hurdles in the 2018 State B meet. She also had a time of 55.70 in the 300 hurdles at the event. She has also participated in relays during those first two seasons.

"I just wanted to come back this season, come back from the injury and really push myself to do better than I had the last two years that I went to state," Denham said.

Denham, who was an All-State basketball player for Malta, admits that track isn't her favorite sport, but it would've been her last sport in high school.

"Now that I can't do it, it makes me sad and I miss it," Denham said. "It's kind of upsetting because the seniors are missing all of their 'lasts,' and we don't get to experience track, so it's pretty sad."

Denham wishes that the track season would eventually open up, but she is not feeling very optimistic about the odds, given that the team's first four events have already passed. Those meets include the Glasgow Invitational on March 28, the Cal Wearley Memorial (Havre) on April 1, the Havre Lions Invitational on April 4, and the Fergus Twilight on April 14. The Malta Invitational is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 21. The MHSA Executive Board is scheduled to address the state of the 2020 spring sports season on Thursday, April 9, and will deliver their judgment on Monday, April 13, according to updates on their website.

"I wish the season would open back up but doesn't really seem like it's going to be opening anytime soon," Denham said. "Everything just keeps getting worse."

Since the shutdowns started, Denham has been focused on getting her school work done as well as scholarship applications for college.

"I've actually been pretty productive," Denham said.

As far as staying active for the season goes, Denham admitted she wasn't in peak shape for track, but she has been working out. She hasn't ruled out running outside once the weather warms up.

Jillian O'Brien had also competed in the Class B State Track meet during her freshman and sophomore seasons. She participated in the 100 hurdles, long jump, and high jump events. She was ninth in high jump, clearing 4-8 at the meet, but has a personal best of 4-10, a mark she reached at the Porcupine Invitational in Glasgow. She had a mark of 13-11.25 in the long jump at State, and she posted a best of 18.93 seconds in the 100 hurdles at state.

"I'm kind of disappointed because I waited all winter for it," O'Brien said. "It's not the end of the world but I am definitely disappointed."

She hopes the season doesn't get canceled, but she feels that the track season is in serious danger of ending before it starts. With school being done remotely O'Brien starts her mornings by completing school work and then the day opens up. She often takes her golden retriever Ginger on walks, but O'Brien has also been running to keep in shape in case the season begins.

"Ginger is not the best running partner," O'Brien said.

Though she has been doing cardiovascular exercise, O'Brien was really hoping to participate in events she can't do without the proper equipment.

"My goal was really to place at state in high jump," O'Brien said. "Sixth place through third is normally 4-10, which is what I have cleared every year, and then at state, I can't get it."

She said that her ultimate high jump goal is to clear 5-0, a mark that she had been trying to reach since her first season in high school track.

O'Brien attended all three of Malta's practices which were held in March prior to Malta High School shutting its doors. During those practices, the teams did not participate in individual events, but did conditioning exercises.

The team is under the direction of first-year Coach Kaitlyn Smith, and Coach Smith has the task of working with her siblings, senior Tanner Smith and junior Erica Smith. While Erica has the 2021 season as a possibility, Tanner's is in danger of ending.

Though the season may be over, T. Smith has faith that his sister will do well for the Malta teams because of her work at North Dakota State University, a Division I school.

"I think things were looking good," Tanner said. "Our workouts were looking good. I was expecting good things from her."

Since the track season has been put on hold (besides online classes), T. Smith has been busy working at his father Earl's repair shop, helping his father catch up on work. T. Smith has also been staying in shape by following the weightlifting program he has been doing at Malta High School at home.

"I doubt the season will continue, but it would be cool if it did," T. Smith said. "Who knows how this is going to go. I heard that Montana hasn't even hit the peak of this yet, so I'm thinking the season is not going to continue."

Smith competed at state in his sophomore and junior seasons. Last season he competed in all three jumping events, taking eighth in the high jump by clearing 5-10, ninth in triple jump with a mark at 40-0, and posting a leap of 19-3 in long jump.

"I was hoping to get up on the podium for triple jump or high jump and possibly even the relays again," Smith said.

As far as school goes, Smith was looking forward to experiencing his last semester. One of the hardest parts about track ending for Smith was seeing that foreign exchange students Alba González Palou and Mario Sanchez Pando had to go back home in wake of the virus.

"Mario is a fast kid and I was looking forward to having him on the short relay team," T. Smith said. "He would have done really well."