Hart runner-up at state championships
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
COLUMBUS — Wearing a white retro jersey with "H.H.S. TRACK" printed on the front, worn previously by his father in the mid-80s, Hillsboro senior Jarrod Hart raced his way into HHS history, finishing as the Division II state runner-up in the 800-meter run, Saturday in the OHSAA State Track & Field Championships.
It isn't the fact Hart (a two-time state placer) was the first Hillsboro track athlete to get second or better at the state track and field championships since 1998, it was how he ran the race … the way he wanted to. He finished with a time of 1:54.11 for second place at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, located on the campus of The Ohio State University.
Hart came extremely close to breaking the school record in the 800m event.
In 1974, Jim Buck raced an 880-yard time (event previously was measured in yards) of 1:54.1, then a state record. With the conversion chart to the 800m race, Buck's time equals 1:53.4 in 800 meters. For conversion purposes, 800m equals 874 yards, and according to the conversion charts, .7 seconds is subtracted from the 880 yard final time to obtain the time in 800m.
Either way, the record held by Buck was something which motivated Hart since his freshman season.
[[In-content Ad]]"I was really close to the record," Hart said. "I've eyed that mark since my freshman year. Thank God Jim Buck ran that time in the '70s, because that time really motivated me for the past four years.
"This race was what I worked for all year long. I have to thank my parents for their support, going to all my meets, and thanks to Coach Marsh for picking me up when I would get down. I want to thank everyone who has helped me along the way, because I don't know where I would be without all the support."
Hart held strong on the first of two laps in the state championships, running in the top four by the time the lap was completed.
The HHS senior, who began the race in lane one, kept the pace as one of the leading runners at the start of lap two. He then maneuvered his way around runners by going to their outside. Hart did what he wanted to do in the final 200 meters of the race.
Hart, who signed to race Division I track and field at the University of Cincinnati, picked up the pace, sprinting past the competition on the final straightaway, racing to second place, but unable to gain enough ground on eventual 800m champion Sam Parkel, a senior from Versailles.
Parkel finished with a time of 1:52.32. The senior from Versailles also won the state title in the 1600m run at 4:14.00.
The HHS senior explained his race.
"I wanted to get a good spot during the first lap, and I did," he said. "Then I got my back kick, caught and passed a few runners in front of me, but I just couldn't catch up with first place.
"I'm very happy with my race … extremely happy."
Last year, as a junior, Hart finished sixth with a time of 1:57.60.
HHS varsity boys head coach Bud Marsh spoke about what was going through his mind during the race.
"The final stretch … all I was thinking was keep pushing to the finish," he said. "I thought 'don't stop and finish across the finish line.'
"I think Jarrod had a little bit left, but he ran a great race. He had his personal best time, and I can't say how much of a phenomenal runner he is. He's a great competitor and ran with confidence. I'm really proud of him and how he ran this year."
Hart could have one more attempt at the school mark if he's invited to race in the Midwest Meet of Champions next week in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Finishing in third was senior Ryan Clay of Rossford at 1:54.64. Rounding out the top five were Tim Hoodlebrink, a sophomore from Eastwood, at 1:55.09 and Drake Walker of St. Clairsville at 1:55.88.
Hart broke his personal best mark in the state championships, as he had a time of 1:55.66 at the Athens Regionals the previous weekend where he was the regional champion. Hart was a South Central Ohio League, district and regional champion this season.
Hart had a time of 1:56.82 at the Washington C.H. Districts and 2:03.83 at the SCOL meet, both first-place finishes.
"A runner like Jarrod doesn't come around too often," Marsh said. "I always look back and wonder if Jarrod had the competition throughout the year, if that could have even pushed him more.
"It has been a pleasure and honor to coach Jarrod, and he's set a precedent for the future of this program. I've seen a lot of difference with the younger kids since the start of the season, and a lot of that has to do with Jarrod. I wish him luck in the future, and there is no question he'll excel at the next level."
It isn't the fact Hart (a two-time state placer) was the first Hillsboro track athlete to get second or better at the state track and field championships since 1998, it was how he ran the race … the way he wanted to. He finished with a time of 1:54.11 for second place at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, located on the campus of The Ohio State University.
Hart came extremely close to breaking the school record in the 800m event.
In 1974, Jim Buck raced an 880-yard time (event previously was measured in yards) of 1:54.1, then a state record. With the conversion chart to the 800m race, Buck's time equals 1:53.4 in 800 meters. For conversion purposes, 800m equals 874 yards, and according to the conversion charts, .7 seconds is subtracted from the 880 yard final time to obtain the time in 800m.
Either way, the record held by Buck was something which motivated Hart since his freshman season.
[[In-content Ad]]"I was really close to the record," Hart said. "I've eyed that mark since my freshman year. Thank God Jim Buck ran that time in the '70s, because that time really motivated me for the past four years.
"This race was what I worked for all year long. I have to thank my parents for their support, going to all my meets, and thanks to Coach Marsh for picking me up when I would get down. I want to thank everyone who has helped me along the way, because I don't know where I would be without all the support."
Hart held strong on the first of two laps in the state championships, running in the top four by the time the lap was completed.
The HHS senior, who began the race in lane one, kept the pace as one of the leading runners at the start of lap two. He then maneuvered his way around runners by going to their outside. Hart did what he wanted to do in the final 200 meters of the race.
Hart, who signed to race Division I track and field at the University of Cincinnati, picked up the pace, sprinting past the competition on the final straightaway, racing to second place, but unable to gain enough ground on eventual 800m champion Sam Parkel, a senior from Versailles.
Parkel finished with a time of 1:52.32. The senior from Versailles also won the state title in the 1600m run at 4:14.00.
The HHS senior explained his race.
"I wanted to get a good spot during the first lap, and I did," he said. "Then I got my back kick, caught and passed a few runners in front of me, but I just couldn't catch up with first place.
"I'm very happy with my race … extremely happy."
Last year, as a junior, Hart finished sixth with a time of 1:57.60.
HHS varsity boys head coach Bud Marsh spoke about what was going through his mind during the race.
"The final stretch … all I was thinking was keep pushing to the finish," he said. "I thought 'don't stop and finish across the finish line.'
"I think Jarrod had a little bit left, but he ran a great race. He had his personal best time, and I can't say how much of a phenomenal runner he is. He's a great competitor and ran with confidence. I'm really proud of him and how he ran this year."
Hart could have one more attempt at the school mark if he's invited to race in the Midwest Meet of Champions next week in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Finishing in third was senior Ryan Clay of Rossford at 1:54.64. Rounding out the top five were Tim Hoodlebrink, a sophomore from Eastwood, at 1:55.09 and Drake Walker of St. Clairsville at 1:55.88.
Hart broke his personal best mark in the state championships, as he had a time of 1:55.66 at the Athens Regionals the previous weekend where he was the regional champion. Hart was a South Central Ohio League, district and regional champion this season.
Hart had a time of 1:56.82 at the Washington C.H. Districts and 2:03.83 at the SCOL meet, both first-place finishes.
"A runner like Jarrod doesn't come around too often," Marsh said. "I always look back and wonder if Jarrod had the competition throughout the year, if that could have even pushed him more.
"It has been a pleasure and honor to coach Jarrod, and he's set a precedent for the future of this program. I've seen a lot of difference with the younger kids since the start of the season, and a lot of that has to do with Jarrod. I wish him luck in the future, and there is no question he'll excel at the next level."