The Custer County All-Area team for Track!
Arehart looks to lead way for Spartan boys in 2020-2021
ANSLEY - After a spectacular first two years of track and increased training, there is only one goal on the mind of Ansley-Litchfield’s Collin Arehart, and that is to bring home the gold at this year’s State Track Meet in Omaha.
“We lost our previous coach and have a new one this season,” Arehart said. “The training has been twice as hard. I think this will help me with my goal of bringing home a gold medal this season at the State Meet.”
It does not seem too farfetched for Arehart who has definitely had his success in both Cross Country and Track throughout the years. He is a two-time qualifier for the State Cross Country Meet in Class D in both 2018 and 2019 and did the same in track in both years.
His best finishes came as a sophomore in 2019 at the State Track Meet where he finished fourth in Class D in the 800-meter run in a time of 2:02.43, and fifth in the 1,600-meter run in a time of 4:44.30. Coming into this year, he is the highest returning placer in both of those events.
This season he hopes to get himself off to a better start at the beginning of the season. As the season progresses, he looks to continually get stronger and peak at state. He did not do a bad job at the Arcadia-Loup City Invite to start the year where he placed in both the 800-meter run and the 400-meter dash.
“My first two years at the beginning of the season I wasn’t that strong,” Arehart said. “I want to start off strong this season and push even harder through the year and set my final goals toward the end of the season.”
According to Arehart his venture’s with running started when he was little, and his dad wanted him to try distance running. It turned out he was pretty good at it and has stuck with it ever since.
“My father was also a distance runner, so he wanted me to try it when I was a little kid,” Arehart said. “I found out I was pretty good at it and I just stuck with it.”
Another big motivation for Collin to perform well is his older twin brother Hunter who also competes on the Ansley-Litchfield track team. Like Collin, he is a twotime state qualifier, but in the pole vault event.
“Yeah, it’s a big motivation for me, because I always have to try and beat my big brother,” Arehart said. “It’s always a competition to see who can qualify for state more.”
Heading into this year after missing last season, Arehart is looking forward to things hopefully getting back to normal. He is also ready to hear the crowds screaming and cheering once again as runners come down the straightaway in their races.
“I am just looking forward to the crowd,” Arehart said. “I want everything to back to normal and the atmosphere around this season to be fired up.”
After high school, Arehart plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Kearney. He thought about running in college but said he wants to focus on school instead. Arehart is currently is undecided on what his major will be.