Garfield G-Men senior Conner Hunt has competed in his last Ohio High School Athletic Association state seated races but left his mark by once again sweeping all three races last weekend at The Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
“Having the breaks throughout all of the meets and events helps a lot,” Hunt said. “I am excited and thankful. I wouldn’t be here without the people around me, and just the hard work. Dedication that drives me to keep me going and chase after something that I know I am so close to helps keep me going.”
Hunt finished his high school career not only sweeping the three races for the fourth consecutive season to come away with 12 titles, but also set the meet, stadium and state records in the seated 400 and 800-meter dashes and set the stadium and state record for the seated 100-meter dash.
Hunt defended his state title in the seated 100-meter dash with a personal record of 16.35, then captured first place in the seated 400-meter dash with a personal best 53.69 seconds. He wrapped up his final OHSAA state meet by winning the seated 800-meter seated dash with a career best 1:54.85.
Garfield Adaptive Track Coach David Ludik credits the G-Men senior with finishing his high school career in style.
“He does it with style and he does it with grace,” the first-year coach added. “He just explodes off the scene, there is no doubt about that, and the crowd is with him. It was great and special to be a part of his life and be a part of this really short moment in time. He has a great gift. I am just thankful I was able to watch.”
According to the University of Cincinnati commit, his goal was to break the state records in each seated event going into his final OHSAA state races.
The Garfield senior said that he was especially pleased with his performance in the seated 400-meter dash.
“I started off from where I normally start off but when I hit this back corner, I knew I was going really quick and had water coming up the wheels and, on my shirt, and hitting my gloves,” he said. “I knew I was going quickly but once I crossed that finish line, I thought I was just around my regular time; then they announced it.”
Hunt departs Garfield with 12 state titles but will continue his athletic career by joining the University of Cincinnati paralympic track program.
Before he begins his career as a Bearcat, Hunt will compete at the Hartford Nationals in Grand Rapids, MI the week of July 10.
“From here on out it is to just keep doing what I am doing, keep preparing for nationals — hopefully bringing some national titles and gold medals home for the small-town of Garrettsville,” he said.
In addition to Hunt sweeping the field, Garfield freshman Lina Kaufman also dazzled in her debut at the OHSAA Division IV state meet, finishing in eighth place in the 3200-meter run.
“I am so proud of myself and happy,” Kaufman said. “Eighth place was my goal. My goal as a freshman was to just make it to the state meet. Once I made it here, I was happy. I didn’t care what I did because I reached my goal but placing is amazing.”
On Thursday, the G-Men freshman kept a steady pace throughout all eight laps of her first OHSAA state race, recording a personal record of 11:22.22.
Kaufman stayed close during the first two laps to the top runners, including Southeast senior Julia Wheeler, who gained separation as she dueled Huron junior Rylie Towns for first place while Port Clinton senior Morgan Wiechman held a comfortable lead for fourth place and the next flight of runners were fighting it out for the final few spots on the podium.
The G-Men freshman said that a part of her wanted to challenge the frontrunners for the lead at the beginning of the race, but she kept to her initial strategy of staying with the pack.
She remained in front of the second pack for 1600 meters leading into the eighth lap, where she began to lag but kept her pace and rallied to take eighth place, snagging her first career podium berth in outdoor track.
“I am proud of myself because I stayed with that pack,” she said. “Had I not stayed with that pack, I would not have reached the podium, so it was a mental battle. I thought ‘I need to stay with them, I need to stay with them. If I do not stay with them, I will not be on the podium.’”
Kaufman said that after enjoying a historic freshman season of cross-country, she experienced a slow start in outdoor track but hit her stride at the start of the postseason and wrapped up her freshman campaign with a strong statement in Columbus.
