FREDERICKTOWN — To hear Fredericktown runner Garrett Gatton talk about his state berth in the 110- and the 300-meter hurdles, one gets the feeling he’s just happy to be there.
To watch him work is to know that the junior wants more than to just make an appearance at Jesse Owens Stadium for this weekend’s OHSAA State Track and Field Championships.
He wants to leave his mark.
“My 100 is not as strong as my 300,” said Gatton. “I think that, if I can get a low 15 [seconds], I can move into the finals so, that’s my goal. My goal in the 300 is to get under 40 [seconds], which is something that I’ve been shooting for the whole year.”
As Gatton listens to his coaches and looks at photos of himself running, he continues to make refinements. Those refinements add up to precious tenths of a second on the track.
“Every tenth of a second counts in the 110,” said Gatton. “If I can get two or three of those, that’s huge, and that will put me right where I want to be. If I get a good start and go through the rest of my hurdles, I think I can get a low 15.”
Gatton is finishing the year the way he started it —going to a state tournament. Not only did he have an outstanding cross country season, he also was part of the Freddies’ basketball team that did so well.
