State Track Feature: Hart runs to state
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
This year for Hillsboro junior Jarrod Hart has been full of success on the athletic stage.
Hart started the school year as part of a successful soccer team that battled late into the season for a league title; he was a part of a back-to-back South Central Ohio League champion basketball team this winter; and this spring, the Hillsboro boys team won the SCOL track and field championship for the first time in 33 years.
"He's a great kid all the way around," Hillsboro boys track and field head coach Bud Marsh said. "When you look at his athleticism, he shows it in a variety of sports … he's such a competitor.
"He has a black belt in karate and travels the world in competitions. He's just one of the top competitors I've ever coached and one of the top athletes I've ever coached. As an individual … I've not coached a better kid. It goes back to his family. They're supportive, he's had a great upbringing and has great work habits."
[[In-content Ad]]Hart's work habits are so great, Marsh had to slow him down at times this year.
"He just wants to get better. He hit a wall in early May as his times were coming down," Marsh said. "I found out that after practice, he was running an extra four or five miles, and at this time I had to convince him to slow down."
As he was a member of many successful teams this year, he'll compete in the 2012 Division II State Track and Field Championships this weekend as an individual, taking part in the 800-meter run, an event he won at the league, district and regional championships this spring.
In his last three meets at the 800m run, Hart has won three times, taking part in SCOL, district and regional championship meets. In the SCOL meet, Hart finished at 2:02.17 (London H.S.), followed by a district time of 1:57.74 (Washington H.S.) and a regional time of 1:55.62 (Athens H.S.).
"Coming into the season, he's run anything we've asked him to run," Marsh said. "Running in the 1600 was more for training, but it's helped him a great deal. What sets him apart from others is he has speed.
"We've run him in the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 … he's really come on, and if you look at his times, he's done what it takes to win. When he gets to that last curve, and if he's with them … I feel really confident in his chances of winning."
Hart, a three-sport athlete, described what exactly running the 800m race is like.
"The first lap is always tough, and the last lap is how bad you want it," he said. "It's about if you have enough left in the tank for the last 100m because at that point you can't feel anything … you are blacking out, but you have to dig through and fight for it."
Last year, Hart had to compete in Division I during the districts and finals, and as a sophomore, he finished second in the district at 1:58.42 and 10th in the region (Lancaster) at 1:58.00.
Upon reaching his goal of qualifying to the state championships, what were his thoughts once he realized he advanced to the meet?
"I was really excited. Last year being Division I, I was 10th, so it was different being one of the fastest runners … it was surreal," Hart said. "Running in Division I helped me this year. It prepared me for this year and showed me what I need to improve on to get to the state and what I needed to run."
Then he spoke about the regional race itself.
"Starting off in lane eight was a new experience," Hart said. "I didn't have anybody to look up at … everybody had their eyes on me. The first lap was kind of rough … finished in fourth or fifth. In the second lap, I had to play catch-up, and then from there I had to dig it out.
"I like to see people in front of me so I can pace myself on that, but I had nobody to pace myself with, so I decided to go out and run like Coach told me. I think it's the toughest race … it's a distance race, but you have to be a sprinter, too. All the good 800 runners in the state are fast sprinters, too. It's tough."
As the event nears, Hart is ready to see what the state championships are all about.
"It's a great feeling (making state) … I'm nervous just thinking about it. It's different … hopefully all the hard work pays off," he said. "I'm excited to go run, it will be a new experience for me. I've never watched a state meet before, but I've heard it's awesome.
"It's been a great year. I've had great teammates on our 4x4 and 4x8 team, and I've trained with a lot of great people. I was glad we could win the league for Coach Marsh … this was one of the best years of any sports I've been a part of. Winning the league in track compared to the basketball league title. I got the same feeling from it, and it was great to share with everyone."
Hart started the school year as part of a successful soccer team that battled late into the season for a league title; he was a part of a back-to-back South Central Ohio League champion basketball team this winter; and this spring, the Hillsboro boys team won the SCOL track and field championship for the first time in 33 years.
"He's a great kid all the way around," Hillsboro boys track and field head coach Bud Marsh said. "When you look at his athleticism, he shows it in a variety of sports … he's such a competitor.
"He has a black belt in karate and travels the world in competitions. He's just one of the top competitors I've ever coached and one of the top athletes I've ever coached. As an individual … I've not coached a better kid. It goes back to his family. They're supportive, he's had a great upbringing and has great work habits."
[[In-content Ad]]Hart's work habits are so great, Marsh had to slow him down at times this year.
"He just wants to get better. He hit a wall in early May as his times were coming down," Marsh said. "I found out that after practice, he was running an extra four or five miles, and at this time I had to convince him to slow down."
As he was a member of many successful teams this year, he'll compete in the 2012 Division II State Track and Field Championships this weekend as an individual, taking part in the 800-meter run, an event he won at the league, district and regional championships this spring.
In his last three meets at the 800m run, Hart has won three times, taking part in SCOL, district and regional championship meets. In the SCOL meet, Hart finished at 2:02.17 (London H.S.), followed by a district time of 1:57.74 (Washington H.S.) and a regional time of 1:55.62 (Athens H.S.).
"Coming into the season, he's run anything we've asked him to run," Marsh said. "Running in the 1600 was more for training, but it's helped him a great deal. What sets him apart from others is he has speed.
"We've run him in the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 … he's really come on, and if you look at his times, he's done what it takes to win. When he gets to that last curve, and if he's with them … I feel really confident in his chances of winning."
Hart, a three-sport athlete, described what exactly running the 800m race is like.
"The first lap is always tough, and the last lap is how bad you want it," he said. "It's about if you have enough left in the tank for the last 100m because at that point you can't feel anything … you are blacking out, but you have to dig through and fight for it."
Last year, Hart had to compete in Division I during the districts and finals, and as a sophomore, he finished second in the district at 1:58.42 and 10th in the region (Lancaster) at 1:58.00.
Upon reaching his goal of qualifying to the state championships, what were his thoughts once he realized he advanced to the meet?
"I was really excited. Last year being Division I, I was 10th, so it was different being one of the fastest runners … it was surreal," Hart said. "Running in Division I helped me this year. It prepared me for this year and showed me what I need to improve on to get to the state and what I needed to run."
Then he spoke about the regional race itself.
"Starting off in lane eight was a new experience," Hart said. "I didn't have anybody to look up at … everybody had their eyes on me. The first lap was kind of rough … finished in fourth or fifth. In the second lap, I had to play catch-up, and then from there I had to dig it out.
"I like to see people in front of me so I can pace myself on that, but I had nobody to pace myself with, so I decided to go out and run like Coach told me. I think it's the toughest race … it's a distance race, but you have to be a sprinter, too. All the good 800 runners in the state are fast sprinters, too. It's tough."
As the event nears, Hart is ready to see what the state championships are all about.
"It's a great feeling (making state) … I'm nervous just thinking about it. It's different … hopefully all the hard work pays off," he said. "I'm excited to go run, it will be a new experience for me. I've never watched a state meet before, but I've heard it's awesome.
"It's been a great year. I've had great teammates on our 4x4 and 4x8 team, and I've trained with a lot of great people. I was glad we could win the league for Coach Marsh … this was one of the best years of any sports I've been a part of. Winning the league in track compared to the basketball league title. I got the same feeling from it, and it was great to share with everyone."