McClain's Cody Hardesty 9th at State Div. II 800m run
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
COLUMBUS — Making his state debut on Saturday, McClain junior Cody Hardesty raced to a ninth-place finish in the 2015 Division II State 800-meter run.
Hardesty, the South Central Ohio League and District champion, finished with a state time of 1:57.34, just two-hundredths of a second away from placing in the Top 8 of the event. The eighth-place finisher was Milan Edison senior Lucas Wallace with a time of 1:57.32.
In his first lap, Hardesty ran a time of 56.880, and in his second lap, the junior ran a time of 1:00.453.
"Cody was so close, but yet so far away," McClain boys track head coach Bob Bergstrom told The Highland County Press following the race. "It looked like he was setting himself up to have a good day.
"His goal was the Top 8, and he said somehow he didn't have the strength to come around the corner like he likes to. and he had so much catching up to do, he just didn't get quite there. We are so happy because of the way he's stepped up for us."
This season, Hardesty raced very little in the 800m event, racing it for the first time at the SCOL Championships, where he won the race with a time of 2:05.32. From there, at the district race he won again, this time at 2:00.66.
At the regionals, the junior had a time of 1:57.22, the new school record in the event.
This past week, Hardesty told The Highland County Press about his switch from the 400m race to the 800m race late in the season, and how the 400 helped the latter.
"The switch from the 400 to the 800 worked well for me," Hardesty said. "I had to get a lot of miles in and start working on my endurance, but the speed from the 400 helped me with my finish in the 800.
[[In-content Ad]]"The 800 is a lot more mental than the 400. You have more time to think, so you have to pay more attention to your competitors and their body language. It is all about who breaks first and seeing who is mentally tough."
The state champion in the Division II race was Dunbar senior Brian Bell at 1:54.53, where the senior raced a 56.305 time in his first lap, and in the second lap, the state champion had a time of 58.222.
Next was Eastwood senior Tim Hoodlebrink at 1:55.50, followed by Madeira junior Nick Cedillo (1:56.17). Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin senior Mick Stanovesek (1:56.30) finished fourth, and in fifth was University School junior Nick Gannon at 1:56.50. In sixth was Indian Creek senior Max Lewis (1:56.50), and in seventh was Eastwood senior Noah Smith at 1:56.94.
Following Wallace and Hardesty was Milton-Union senior Skyler Deeter at 1:57.68. The rest of the field was: Bay senior Matt Orr (1:58.21), Lake Catholic senior Jordan Pritchard (1:59.20), Mariemont junior Charlie Jordan (1:59.45), River View senior Chris St. Clair (2:00.86) and Gallia Academy sophomore Isaiah Lester (2:02.93).
Bergstrom said Hardesty will return to state.
"He wants to come back and be on top here next year, and I think he can," Bergstrom said. "I already told him he'll have to work his tail off, because it is going to take hard work to get there.
"If his determination continues and he works hard, he'll get there, because he already has the speed … he just needs to get the strength."
Hardesty, the South Central Ohio League and District champion, finished with a state time of 1:57.34, just two-hundredths of a second away from placing in the Top 8 of the event. The eighth-place finisher was Milan Edison senior Lucas Wallace with a time of 1:57.32.
In his first lap, Hardesty ran a time of 56.880, and in his second lap, the junior ran a time of 1:00.453.
"Cody was so close, but yet so far away," McClain boys track head coach Bob Bergstrom told The Highland County Press following the race. "It looked like he was setting himself up to have a good day.
"His goal was the Top 8, and he said somehow he didn't have the strength to come around the corner like he likes to. and he had so much catching up to do, he just didn't get quite there. We are so happy because of the way he's stepped up for us."
This season, Hardesty raced very little in the 800m event, racing it for the first time at the SCOL Championships, where he won the race with a time of 2:05.32. From there, at the district race he won again, this time at 2:00.66.
At the regionals, the junior had a time of 1:57.22, the new school record in the event.
This past week, Hardesty told The Highland County Press about his switch from the 400m race to the 800m race late in the season, and how the 400 helped the latter.
"The switch from the 400 to the 800 worked well for me," Hardesty said. "I had to get a lot of miles in and start working on my endurance, but the speed from the 400 helped me with my finish in the 800.
[[In-content Ad]]"The 800 is a lot more mental than the 400. You have more time to think, so you have to pay more attention to your competitors and their body language. It is all about who breaks first and seeing who is mentally tough."
The state champion in the Division II race was Dunbar senior Brian Bell at 1:54.53, where the senior raced a 56.305 time in his first lap, and in the second lap, the state champion had a time of 58.222.
Next was Eastwood senior Tim Hoodlebrink at 1:55.50, followed by Madeira junior Nick Cedillo (1:56.17). Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin senior Mick Stanovesek (1:56.30) finished fourth, and in fifth was University School junior Nick Gannon at 1:56.50. In sixth was Indian Creek senior Max Lewis (1:56.50), and in seventh was Eastwood senior Noah Smith at 1:56.94.
Following Wallace and Hardesty was Milton-Union senior Skyler Deeter at 1:57.68. The rest of the field was: Bay senior Matt Orr (1:58.21), Lake Catholic senior Jordan Pritchard (1:59.20), Mariemont junior Charlie Jordan (1:59.45), River View senior Chris St. Clair (2:00.86) and Gallia Academy sophomore Isaiah Lester (2:02.93).
Bergstrom said Hardesty will return to state.
"He wants to come back and be on top here next year, and I think he can," Bergstrom said. "I already told him he'll have to work his tail off, because it is going to take hard work to get there.
"If his determination continues and he works hard, he'll get there, because he already has the speed … he just needs to get the strength."