Hovatter leaves lasting impression

Generals athlete goes out on high note with title and trio of school records in Group A state meet

By Jeremy Stafford - jstafford@nvdaily.com

QUICKSBURG -- Just a few yards to the side of the concrete track at Stonewall Jackson is a shed that houses an old wooden board. On the board is written various school track and field records, many of which were set over a generation ago, and many of which head coach Dick Krol said might never be broken.

There were too many superb athletes running and jumping and throwing for Stonewall Jackson 25 years ago for any modern athlete to break those records, though some might get close.

On May 30, in the Group A state meet, three of the records written on that old board were scratched out in one athlete's final chance to achieve something memorable.

Phillip Hovatter, in the last meet of his high school career, set Stonewall Jackson records in the triple jump (44-8.75), the 400-meter run (50.32) and anchored the Generals' 4x400-meter relay team (3:26.81).

For Hovatter, the impact of his recent success has yet to hit him.

"Everybody's been telling me it's a really big deal, I just haven't gotten it in my mind," Hovatter said. "I just thought I had a really great day but, sooner or later, I think in a couple years, I'll think, 'I got three school records in one day.'

"Maybe that's when it will start setting in."

Hovatter also ran a personal best in the 200-meter dash (23.20).

His 4x400 relay team took first in the state, and Hovatter's numbers in the triple jump and 400 earned him two second-place finishes, which is why Hovatter is The Northern Virginia Daily's Boys Track Athlete of the Year.

Hovatter's finish in the 400, only a short step behind the top finisher, was a far cry from his disqualification in the event in the state meet last year.

The memory of his disqualification weighed heavily in Hovatter's mind as he set his feet into the blocks. And as he broke away from the rest of the pack in his first few strides, a feeling of relief fell over him: Finally, he could finish his favorite event with the highest level of competition.

Happy, but admittedly not ecstatic about his second-place finishes, Hovatter lined up for the final leg of the 4x400 meter relay, the final event of the meet and one of Krol's favorites.

Hovatter watched as his teammates, first Trevor Warner, then Dylan Shirley, and finally Cole Shaffer, slowly moved up a place in each leg. As he took the baton from Shaffer, Hovatter noticed he was only a few yards behind the lead runner. And by the final turn of the race, Hovatter realized that he was running in the final 100 meters of his Stonewall Jackson career.

He made those 100 meters the most memorable sprint he's ever run.

"I made the last turn and I was kinda thinking in my head, 'This is the last race you'll ever run in high school, and you've already got two second-[place finishes],'" Hovatter recounted.

The senior took over the top spot in the final 40 meters to earn the Generals' only gold medal of the meet.

But for Krol, Hovatter has brought so much more to the Stonewall Jackson track program than mere points and titles.

"Next year, we will be a better track team, all because of what Phillip did this year with those kids," said Krol, speaking of the team's underclassmen. "And you'd be surprised now with how many young kids are talking about track because of what Phillip did, and because of the success that we had this year.

"So he's left a hell of a legacy for us."