Hart Completes Amazing Cross-Country Distance Double

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Devin Hart of Point Pleasant Boro completed one of the most amazing true distance doubles in state history at Saturday's Meet of Champions at Northern Burlington High School in Columbus.

At 8 p.m. on Friday night (Eastern Time) he ran 8:53.56, No. 6 in state history, for two miles in Seattle, Washington to place fourth at the Brooks PR Invit, and then at 5 p.m. today (Eastern time) he dropped an 8:58.58, No. 8 in meet history, to win his second straight 3,200 title at the M of C.

That's two sub 9:00 minute races on two different coasts in 21 hours!! How crazy is that??  

There has never been anyone in NJ history to ever run two races under 9:00 in back-to-back days, which makes Hart's accomplishment something that legends are made of. It will go down as one of the greatest feats in state history.

Hart obviously didn't get much sleep and didn't eat much between the two races.

"I had a hot dog and some donut holes after the race on Friday, didn't sleep on the six hour flight, then got four hours sleep when I got home, and then had a bagel and came to the meet today,'' said Hart. "I'm pretty tired, so I am surprised I ran as fast as I did today.''

With his win on Saturday, Hart, a junior, completed the NJ distance running triple crown with M of C wins in cross-country, indoors in the 3,200 and now outdoors in the same school year. And with his M of C win in the 3,200 last spring, he now has four M of C titles in his career. 

So why did Hart even try to do what he did.

"When I saw the chance to run at the Brooks meet I didn't want to pass up the chance to run in a race that I knew could be real fast,'' said Hart. "And I wanted to defend my title here, so I figured I'd try to do both. It wasn't easy, but I'm glad I did it. It worked out perfectly. Now I just want to go home and sleep.''