Garfield’s Conner Hunt sweeps OHSAA seated state track events for 2nd straight year
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DAYTON -- The location may have been different, but the result remained the same; Garrettsville Garfield's Conner Hunt swept the boys seated track events at the OHSAA state track meet for the second consecutive year, bringing his state championship total to six.
The Garfield sophomore cruised to victories in the seated 100-meter, 400-meter and 800-meter events in Dayton on Saturday to achieve the same clean sweep he did last year in Columbus.
"It means that every year I’m improving and getting better as an athlete and making myself a better person," Hunt said of the trifecta's significance.
The numbers don't lie. Hunt, while not able to set any more state or personal records due to some "pretty iffy" weather, won the 100-meter dash by nearly six seconds, the 400-meter dash by nearly 30 seconds and the 800-meter event by almost exactly a minute.
Hunt also won the three events all within a few hours of each other, a testament to the sophomore's endurance.
"I’m used to it," he said of competing in the 100, 400 and 800-meter events. "I’ve been doing it since seventh grade. I just try to keep up with that in practice, stay in good shape and eat healthy throughout the season."
Breaking the 400-meter and 800-meter records remains of the utmost importance to Hunt, though. The sophomore broke the 100-meter state record in early May with a time of 16.13 and was less than two seconds away from the 400-meter record and seven seconds away from the 800-meter mark.
HUNT'S HIGH HOPES
Moments after being recognized for his sixth consecutive state championship victory, Hunt explained that he expects nothing but the best from himself, whether it be on the track or on a basketball court.
"I’m very hard on myself," Hunt said.
But it's because he has big goals in mind.
Not only does he want to break all of the available Ohio high school state records by the time he graduates, but Hunt has his eyes set on college, and eventually, the Olympics.
Garfield has done its part in aiding Hunt; the G-Men constructed a new track and field complex, which opened this year.
"I think that has been helping a lot with my improvement with my starts, my long distance and everything like that," Hunt said.
Starts are a particular point of focus for Hunt. As his competitors struggle to get up to speed, Hunt is already quickly creating a sizable advantage.
"Off the starts you want to get out there... because if not, you’re kind of back with everybody else. Somebody filling your lane or something could happen and mess you up," Hunt said. "Just getting off the start and being ahead of everybody else gets you a more comfortable position instead of back with everybody else."
Fortunately for him, that's not typically an issue.
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