Honsaker has hat trick in track and field

By Pete Mollica

She’s the first area performer to win three events in the same year since Girard’s Cachet Murray in 2004.

COLUMBUS — Nicole Honsaker had to talk her coach into letting her run the hurdles this season.

A year ago she placed at the state meet in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes, but she wanted to make the switch.

Well, it paid off big dividends for the Mineral Ridge High track team because Saturday morning the senior standout won state championships in both the Division III 100 high hurdles and the 300 hurdles at the OHSAA track and field championships at Jesse Owens Stadium.

Asked how her coach talked her into switching to the hurdles this season, Honsaker quickly responded, “He didn’t talk me into it, I had to talk him into letting me switch.”

Honsaker who is still undecided about where she wants to go to college, finished 15.0 seconds in the 100 hurdles and then ran 44.27 seconds in the 300.

“Both races were good ones and I expected to have some competition in both,” Honsaker said. “I really felt good coming into today and felt that I had a pretty good shot at winning both.”

The two wins Saturday, coupled with her victory in the long jump Friday gave her three state titles for the meet, becoming the first area performer to win three events in the same year since Girard’s Cachet Murray did it in 2004.

“To be compared with somebody like Cachet is something that I can’t even think about right now,” said Honsaker. “I’m just happy with my wins.”

She missed out on a chance for a fourth title when the Rams’ 4x800 relay finished eighth. Honsaker anchored that team, which also included Haley Garris, Andrea Pannunzio, and Kristen Basista.

Honsaker said she’s going to wait a while before making a decision on college.

“I’ve been accepted at Thiel and I like it up there, but my family said that I should wait before making a choice right now,” she added.

With three state championships under her belt it’s a good bet that some other colleges will be knocking on her door shortly.