STEWART EARNS USATF AWARD
National Champion Seeks to Repeat Success from Last Summer
Another Hardin County athlete brought home a prestigious award in track in field recently. A month after John Hardin’s Brandon Bagley won the state Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year 2010, his Kentucky Elite Track and Field teammate Andrew Stewart of North Hardin was awarded as the 2009 Kentucky United States of America Track and Field Male Athlete of the Year.
Youth Committee Chair Linda Sarrett stated that the award is for that year’s high school and summer track accomplishments. He was fifth at the State Class 3A Cross Country Championships. He was fourth in the State Track and Field Class 3A 1600m Run and eighth in the 800m Run. However, he peaked in the summer and was USATF Region V 800m and 1500m Runs Intermediate Boys Champion. He capped the season by becoming the USATF National 1500m Run Intermediate Boys Champion. He has accomplished this while being a soccer player for North Hardin, but will dedicate himself to Cross Country and Track in 2010-2011.
Kentucky Elite coaches Chris Jelks and Leland Warsaw, as well as North Hardin Boy’s Cross Country coach James Jackson all echoed the same sentiments about Stewart: He is hard working, has unlimited potential, and they would all love clones of him. Jelks stated that he is a rare athlete and different breed of runner. Jackson added that he has developed into a tremendous leader and is set to make a run for the State Championship in Cross Country. John Russell, North Hardin's Girls Cross Country Coach and Stewart's first cross country coach, said that he understands the talents God has given him athletically and academically. He also stated that everyone who knows Stewart understands how important his spirituality is to him. Warsaw likes his chances to win the AAU Young Men 1500m Run National Championship and compete for the 800m title next week.
He thanked God for his successes and loved the opportunity to compete against athletes from around the nation. He understands that his hard work “paid off” and looks forward to better his personal records at the AAU National Championships. He also plans to help make his team better while also setting some records which he is close to in his senior year at North Hardin. He believes his focus on cross country and track and field will enable his potential to be realized. This should be a fun year for people who enjoy watching a young man of principles and dedication achieve his dreams in the North Hardin tradition of greats James Jeter and Joey Stockton.
