photo by JIM WALKER

Coal Grove Hornets' senior sprinter Oakie Haynes races to an eighth place finish in the Division III state track meet Saturday.

Hornets’ Haynes 8th in 100 meters

By Jim Walker | The Tribune

Originally published 12:04 a.m., June 6, 2010
Updated 12:04 a.m., June 6, 2010

COLUMBUS — Oakie Haynes is one of the fastest runners in the state of Ohio.

He’s also very tired.

Haynes proved to be one of the top sprinters in the state Saturday as he placed eighth in the Division III state meet 100-meter dash.

But the Coal Grove Hornets’ senior standout said the long, grueling season finally took its toll as he finished his last high school race.

“It’s been a long stretch. My body hurts and I’m tired,” said Haynes who ran an 11.35, his slowest time of the postseason.

“I could’ve done better. Everyone knows it,” said Haynes. “But sometimes you just get beat.”

Nick Melone of Columbiana won the race with an 11.02 time. Haynes had been under 11 seconds during the regular season on several occasions.

“It hard to get here and then place. Think of all the kids who ran in the districts, all of the ones in the regionals, and all the kids who didn’t get here,” said Haynes.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling. But I’m honored to have just made the state meet and to place. That’s hard to do.”

The speedy Haynes also qualified for the state meet in the 200-meter dash and as the anchor leg on the 4x100 relay team. He had the ninth best qualifying time in the 200 and didn’t make the finals.

The 4x100 team also failed to make the finals.

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