Some would call it running a tactical race.
Rocky Hansen ’23 says he was simply “feeling it” all weekend long at the adidas Track Nationals in Virginia Beach, Va.
The Christ School junior uncorked a big finishing kick to take first place in the 2-mile run Saturday (9 minutes, 7.36 seconds) and then repeated the winning formula Sunday in the 1-mile run (4:14.27).
Two national championships in one weekend aside, Rocky’s time for the 2-mile is a school record and would convert to the third-fastest 3,200-meter time ever run by an athlete from western North Carolina (9:04.19). His mile time would convert to 4:12.18 for 1,600 meters and rank second all-time among WNC runners at that distance. Rocky is from Hendersonville, N.C.
“It was a great weekend. I had a lot of fun,” Rocky said.
“It was fun to race at that track and something I was looking forward to. I had a lot of fun, just going out there, racing hard and getting big (personal records). It’s cool to (win two national titles), but I always stay hungry. I’m always looking for the next thing.”
The track at the Virginia Beach Sports Center is 200 meters long. Rocky easily made up at least 25 meters on the bell lap of Sunday’s mile to catch runner-up Jackson Mace-Maynard (4:14.33) from Iowa at the line.
“I had the same kick (in Saturday's 2-mile),” Rocky said. “I was just feeling it.”
Greenie coach Randy Ashley said that Rocky’s split for the final 200 meters of the 2-mile was 27.9 seconds.
“This was a big weekend for him and Christ School track,” Coach Ashley said.
“We’ve never had a national champion until now and these marks are going to put Rocky in some national rankings. I know we’ve had some stellar athletes comes through Christ School in a lot of sports. And to me, Rocky is putting himself up there in the all-time ranks.”
Dawson Reeves ’24 placed sixth in the 1-mile run Sunday (4:19.67) and Rocky was happy to share the medal stand with his teammate.
“I’m really psyched for outdoor track,” Rocky said. “I think that our team is going to do some really big things.”
