Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Rain In The Face
FARMINGTON RUNNERS TURN IN BEST TIMES DURING BAD WEATHER
FARMINGTON — Senior Corey Huitt made the most of one last opportunity to don the red and white school colors as a Farmington Cardinal.
Competing in the boys 800 meter at the State 4A Track and Field meet held at Heber Springs on May 2, Huitt, had to overcome not only cold and rain but also a plot devised by the host school using a group of runners to try and hinder his progress.
Early in the season, Huitt ran a 2:03 in the 800 meter at Siloam Springs, which automatically qualified him for state but he still wasn’t the favorite at state with Brock Ballard, of Heber Springs, which hosted the state 4A meet, owning the best time in the 800 meter.
In the order of events, Ballard competed in the 3200 meter just prior to the 800-meter and had two of his teammates in the race.
“They got out front and tried to slow him down,” said Spencer Adams, Farmington head boys Track and Field coach. “The other Coach Adams thought they would do that and he told Corey to hit certain marks.”
With his coaches timing him, their excitement escalated as Huitt cleared the first 200 meters in 26 seconds and had traveled 400 meters in 57 seconds.
“It was real cold and real rainy,” Spencer Adams said. “He ended up breaking away and won the whole thing. He ran a great race.”
In other events, Huitt anchored Farmington’s 4 x 800 meter relay team which placed second at state. After the Pioneer Relays held at Gentry on April 11, Mike Adams, Farmington assistant coach, changed the lineup and shifted the order, finding a dynamic combination of Chris Sims, Josh Williams, Tyarak Polingo and Huitt.
At state, the quartet recorded their best time of 8:44, an improvement over their 9:04.40 at the district meet and better by 26 seconds off their time at Gentry.
The group set a school record, breaking the Farmington mark by 15 seconds. According to Mike Adams, a Cardinal 4x800 relay ran a time of 8:59 four years ago, which was the first time the school had a team break the nine minute mark.
“This was only the second time we’ve broken the nine minute mark,” Mike Adams said.
“All four guys improved their split, which is what we were looking for. They ended up getting state runner-up which is great,” Spencer Adams said.
Spencer Adams liked the effort at state from senior Colton Shadrick in the 300 meter hurdles and that of senior Lance Wood in the 110 meter hurdles.
“They didn’t place at state but both ran real good and both ran their best times of the year against real, tough competition,” Spencer Adams said.
The 4x400 relay team of Quinn Holman, Chaz Turner, Wood and Huitt also drew praise from their coach.
“They got sixth place and had their best time of the year,” Spencer Adams said. “I’m real pleased with them, running when it’s cold, rainy and wet, times are always going to be slower.”
Spencer Adams was happy with the overall progress of the team.
“I couldn’t be more pleased, we were real successful,” Spencer Adams said, noting the Cardinal boys finished around the top dozen in team standings out of 48 schools.
“I enjoyed it a lot and I’m looking forward to next year.”
Utilizing his father’s expertise and injecting fresh enthusiasm into the program with youthful exuberance, Spencer Adams has taken a step toward his stated goal of eventually bringing home a state team championship to Farmington.