West Hartford's Hains Makes Huge Gains on the Track

West Hartford resident Mick Hains, a rising sophomore at Kingswood Oxford, took part in the 2013 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships in Greensboro, NC on July 24.  

Hains ran the 800 meter for 15-16 year old boys and placed 17th overall, finishing with a time of 2:03.13. He placed second overall in the 15-year-old subgroup.  

There were over 8,000 athletes from around the United States who competed in the meet.  

On July 6, Hains attended the Region 1 Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships in New York City, where he placed fifth in the 800 meter event, allowing him to advance to the National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships in Greensboro.  

Hains also participated on the Kingswood Oxford varsity soccer, swim, and track & field teams this past year during his freshman year.

This was his first year running track and field and he quickly found passion in the sport.  

Indeed, Hains said in a telephone interview that he started running the 400, but his coach tried him in the 800.

“It’s a grueling event,” he said. “[My coach] kept putting me in the 800. He had a lot of confidence in me and I kept dropping time.”

Hains said his goal is to run a sub-2:00 800 and return to the nationals next year in Houston.