In the midst of studying for Advanced Placement tests and preparing for summer, four HHS boys track and field athletes broke the school record in the 4 by 800 meter relay.

“[Breaking the record] was one of our big goals this track season. It’s a team goal. All of us worked and trained together, so it was awesome to break the school record in that relay,” said Joe Klecker, senior captain.

Klecker, along with Jack Henschel and Owen Hoeft, juniors, and Seth Eliason, sophomore, beat the previously held 2006 record by approximately one second, running a time of 7:55.60 at the conference meet on Tues. May 12.

“I was the lead off leg – the first runner – and I really wanted to beat the [school record]. All of [the 4 by 800 meter] team was on pace through the whole race and then Joe just brought it home and we broke the record,” Henschel said.

The four athletes are extremely excited by their collective success.

“It’s such a good feeling – the school has a record board, and we’ll see our names up there. Hopefully we’ll get our name on there more,” Hoeft said.

In addition to breaking the school record, all four athletes attested that it was a successful conference meet.

“The conference meet is just another opportunity to have fun with other athletes,” Henschel said. “The [track experience] has been such a good character building. Practice is always something that I look forward to and meets are what I take pride in.”

In light of their success, the boys are already looking to the next competition, the section meet, which will take place on Tues. May 26. Klecker states that he hopes that the team has many individual qualifiers in addition to the 4 by 800 meter relay team.

“We’re doing a lot of resting up and making sure our bodies are prepared for the section meet,” Klecker said. “We’re also mentally preparing. This could be the last meet, so [the team] as to mentally prepare to put everything we’ve got on the line.”

Boys distance coach Mike Harris is extremely confident in the team’s outlook, expressing his appreciation for their hard work.
“I am just a spectator. The best part of the viewing experience is the guys – watching them run and breaking the school record record — that’s all them,” Harris said.