Handling himself with poise at the Ohio High School Athletic Association seated state championships is something that Garfield G-Men junior Connor Hunt has done since he was a freshman. The G-Men senior continued adding to his resume by sweeping all three seated dash events last Saturday at The Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.
In only three years, Hunt has collected nine seated state championships, having won every race he has competed in at the state level.
“I am just happy to be here and compete at this level and get the opportunity to come out here and show the state what I have,” Hunt said.
Once again, the G-Men junior had limited down time after each race to catch his breath and stay hydrated as all three seated dash events took place on the same day.
Coach Matt Pfleger said that after two years of experience at the state meet, Hunt handles himself like a seasoned veteran.
“We have been spoiled by him,” the four-year coach noted. “Even from his freshman year when he came in. He was poised and knew what he had to do. He won the three state titles that year and it has been the same thing. He goes in with the same mentality. He knows that people are gunning for him being the top one coming in so he came out and just got the job done.”
Hunt began the day by winning the 800-meter seated dash, clocking a personal record of 2:03.18. According to him, he could not have asked for a better race to begin his day.
“The 800-meter seated dash was definitely a good race to start off with,” he noted. “It gave me a feel for the track to see all of the competition around me and to see what I am working with so I could get ready for the next race.”
Hunt captured his 10th state championship when he won the 400-meter seated dash with a state record of 57.47 seconds, exceeding the previous state record that he set earlier in the season.
“That was just insane,” he added. “I knew I was moving. I did not think I was going that quick but to sit up and see the scoreboard and that time means I am improving. I am doing great things. I set the 400-meter record earlier in the season and to come here and do it in front of everybody is just a great opportunity.”
Hunt finished his day by winning the 100-meter seated dash, posting a time of 18.33 seconds, finishing only .39 seconds ahead of Massillon Perry freshman Christopher Good.
Out of all of the seated dash events, Hunt said that the 100-meter seated dash is his favorite.
“It is the shortest and quickest and normally the one I am the best at,” he said. “On Saturday, I think I had a little off day.”
In each race, Hunt led from start to finish as he confidently rolled around the track.
“This is the hottest day that we have for a track meet probably during the whole season. To be able to win all three events back-to-back at this level is just great to see him go out and compete as well as he did,” Pfleger remarked.
Hunt acknowledged that Good gave him a good race and can see the Massillon Perry freshman presenting strong competition in next year’s seated state championships but plans to use that as further motivation as he continues to improve his racing skills.
“He’s definitely up there with me,” Hunt said. “That just means I have to come back and push harder, work toward my goal of getting all three next year and seeing what happens.”
Hunt added that in his third time at the state meet, he has developed a sense of comfort competing at the state level by building on his last two experiences.
“Coming back, I definitely felt more comfortable,” he said. “It felt right. It put me in a calmer state to be relaxed and focused on what really matters.”
With another sweep in hand, Hunt’s attention now turns to his final season at Garfield, as he seeks to become the first seated athlete in Portage County history to sweep the three seated state championships in each of his four years as a high school athlete.
“I am hoping we can get there,” he said. “Next year I have to come back and work harder and stay on top of things and get after it.”
