Numbers are an issue for the Harrison boys’ track team.
“If I could use the same six kids in 10 events, we’d be a pretty good team,” said Hornets coach Tod Reeve. “Unfortunately, the rules are that you can only run in four events, so that won’t fly.”
All of which puts a premium on versatility, and that’s where junior Austin Lavigne comes in.
Lavigne specializes in the hurdles. He ran a 16.16 in the 110 highs last spring and just missed a trip to the state meet.
“He is the top returner in the Jack Pine Conference in the 110 highs and he has the best time in the 300 of all the returning hurdlers by two seconds,” said Reeve, who has been the head track coach for eight years and has headed up the cross country program for 23. “He’s one of the better hurdlers we’ve had and we’ve had some good ones.”
With so many other jobs to go around, Reeve can tap Lavigne to fill out a relay or run open events.
At an early season tri-meet, Lavigne won both hurdles and finished second in the 200 meters.
“Whenever I ask him to do anything, he says `yes’ and goes out and does a good job for me,” said Reeve. “He’s probably our second-best in the 400 meters as well.
“We’re going to use him wherever we need him, but we’re also going to focus on getting him into top form for the regional and conference meets at the end of the season with an eye on getting him to states.”