The outstanding senior sprinter on the Buchtel boys track team, Nate Harris, has been named the SportsInk.com Athlete of the Week for May 8-15.
Harris has excelled all spring, and he did so again at the 31st annual Optimist Meet in Austintown, being named the meet's outstanding male performer after having a hand in no fewer than four first-place finishes. He captured both the 100 (10.83) and 200 (22.19) meters and was on the first-place 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams.
As if he needed any help -- his immense talent is usually enough in itself -- Harris was running with even more purpose at the meet.
“The guys at the meet were getting on me a little bit beforehand because I was a little injured, so that got me going,” said Harris, whose favorite event is the 100.
Not a good idea at all to rattle the cage of the lion.
His coach took notice of it all.
“Nate is a great kid, and last weekend, he was darn good for sure,” Buchtel's John Scott said.
Harris is an interesting track story, as he just started running last year as a junior and now, one year later, he is a defending state champion as a sprinter -- three times over, in fact. He won both the 100 (11.00) and 200 (22.08) last season at Columbus and was on the victorious 4x200 relay team, running the anchor leg in a 1:27.55 finish.
“I first got into the sport to prepare me for football, and now it is No. 1 for me,” Harris said.
Harris used to be a baseball player in the spring until last year.
“I love baseball, but my buddies talked me into running and now I love it,” he said.
His high school journey has been a little out of the ordinary, as he started at Copley and then came to Buchtel along with close friend Marlon Oden.
“Those were some crazy days, but I’m pleased to be here with all the guys I grew up with,” Harris said.
And the Griffins are just as pleased to have him.
“He is unique. He is talented," Scott said. "I’m glad that I have gotten to know him."
Nate Harris
Senior
Buchtel High School
Track/Football
TV: The Game
Movie: “Friday”
Pizza: Pepperoni and sausage
Home Cooking: Grandma’s round steak and gravy
iPod: Chris Brown
Class: Math
Bucket List: Track national champion