BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS

Hovey, Jazwinksi propel Hart girls to D3 state title, boys finish third

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Reporter

KENT CITY – Hart’s girls track and field team left no doubt who the best team was when they hoisted the Division 3 championship trophy into the air on Saturday, June 3.

The Pirates were dominant all day, never slipping out of contention for the top spot. Without heavy-hitters like Kendall Williamson from last year to help carry them, Hart called on their youthful core of talented sophomores to step up and lead.

They did more than lead, they took control themselves.

It started with sophomore Addi Hovey, a force on the basketball court in the winter and now an All-State track star. Hovey churned out a win in the high jump, posting a mark of five feet four inches. Two other competitors posted the same mark, but because Hovey stuck her first attempt, she was given the win and her first All-State honor of the day.

Hovey continued to perform, snagging third place in the 100-meter dash, seventh place as a member of the 800 relay team and capped off the day with a third place finish alongside teammates in the 400 relay. That made her a four-time All-State honoree on the day, and helped compile 24 points to her team’s final total of 64.

“This year I’ve improved a lot. Taking the time off travel basketball to focus on track has really helped and I’m proud of myself and my teammates,” Hovey said. “It’s been a blessing. Last year I took second in high jump and this year I focused on winning and that’s been the goal the whole year.”

Hovey’s road to first place in the high jump was marked with stellar outings over the year. That included setting a mark of 5-11, something she noted as a highlight for her. Her placement also had a bit of extra sweetness added as she took down Heidi Newhouse of Lawton, who she finished runner-up to a season ago.

The Pirates were still in a tight race with Olivet, even with Hovey’s massive outing. The Eagles swapped first place with Hart at multiple points on the day. That is, until sophomore Jessie Jazwinski hit the track for the distance events.

Jazwinski, an individual state champion for Hart in cross country in 2022, started the day off in the 1,600 relay with a fourth place finish (9:35.92). Then, Jazwinski took second in the 1,600, third in the 800 and first in the 3,200 – making her a two-time individual state champion and a four-time All-State honoree this year alone. Even then, she wasn’t satisfied.

“I was a little disappointed. I really wanted to take home the mile today, but it didn’t turn out how I wanted,” Jazwinski said. “But I’m a sophomore and I’ll definitely be going for it next year. Overall I’m happy and super excited for our team.”

Jazwinski’s performance, along with nice finishes from junior Alyson Enns in the same races, vaulted Hart right to the top. All the Pirates had to do was earn placement points in the 1,600 relay and hope Olivet didn’t post big numbers in the pole vault. Both of those worked out in their favor and they were champions once again.

“This one was nerve racking because there were expectations there. Last year was more of a surprise,” Hart girls track coach Calvin Ackley said. “They knew how to be champions because they were here last year. Addi Hovey was great and Jessie Jazwinski was the lynch pin with those long distance races.”

Hart’s boys enjoyed plenty of impressive performances themselves. Unlike the girls however, the distance events put them firmly behind the competition. Senior Clayton Ackley, a model of consistency for Hart, struggled in the 1,600, falling into ninth place and missing out on placement points. Ackley did rebound with a third place finish in the 3,200, but that wasn’t enough to bring his team within reach.

Add to that a surprise second place finish for Kellen Kimes in the shot put throw and Hart’s scores stayed relatively stagnant. Kimes placed first in discus (1743), but thanks to a personal record throw from a PewamoWestphalia athlete, was surpassed in shot put. Kimes wasn’t shocked, noting that inconsistency in that event has plagued him all season long.

“It’s hard to go into a state meet and think you’re going to PR in both of your events,” Kimes said. “I had a great day in discus, but when I got up to shot put, nothing was clicking. That’s something that I’ve had a lot of this year. Inconsistencies in shot put are something I struggled with.”

Missing out on the trophy wasn’t where Hart’s boys wanted to end up, but they still finished All-State in five events.