Fairfield’s Hallie Haines makes history as first state runner for girls program
Fairfield senior Hallie Haines, center, runs in the Division III 400-meter dash at the 2023 State Track and Field Championships. (HCP Photos/Stephen Forsha)
COLUMBUS — Fairfield senior Hallie Haines was a history maker for the girls track team Friday, as she became the first girls runner in program history to race at the state meet.
Haines raced in the Division III girls 400-meter dash at the 2023 State Track and Field Championships, finishing with a time of 1:00.90, a 15th-place finish out of 18 runners.
Being just her second year running the 400m event, Haines raced her way to state with a successful season, including a Southern Hills Athletic Conference Championship, as her time at that event was 1:00.82.
Haines was also a district runner-up in ’23, finishing with a time of 59.78. During the regional race, Haines had a 400m time of 59.94, a fourth-place finish.
“Last year was my first time ever trying the 400, so it is crazy that I am here right now doing that,” Haines told The Highland County Press. “I’m going to run the 400 in college (at Wittenberg University), and I never would have imagined I would have made it here. Of course, that was my end goal. It was a great thing to be a part of and to look at the crowd and just for me to be the person to go through that.”
Haines also spoke about being the first girls runner for Fairfield and what the experience meant to her.
“At first, that was a big thing for us, being the first girl runner from our school to make it here, and it has been a really great experience,” Haines said. “I have the best family and friends who came to support me. Three of my best friends came and made it a great experience for me.
“Going in last week (at regionals), you are like in a cloud there, and to be there and experience that is great, but to have it hit me that ‘oh, I did make it,’ is again, a great experience. Going into regionals, I wasn’t ranked to make top four, so it was crazy for me.”
The Fairfield senior Haines wanted to say thank you to the community for their support as she left Leesburg to race at state on Friday morning.
“I want to thank the community for coming out and supporting me when we left town today,” Haines said. “It was early, and I didn’t expect many people to come out because 7:30 a.m. is early for a lot of people, but they were there and had a banner for me.
“I’m proud to be a part of where I come from. They helped me to get to where I am today.”
