Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Everything's in focus for Lecanto's Haddock

Senior has asserted herself as a leader and the area's top distance runner this season.

By DEREK LaRIVIERE
Published April 21, 2006

LECANTO - One of the greatest qualities to see in an athlete is focus.

A person can have the most talent or the best opportunities, but without inner drive and focus, a competitor cannot fulfill 100 percent of her potential. Lecanto's Tara Haddock lives by that fact.

Haddock, the Panthers' lone senior, has been dominant this season. Quickly gaining a reputation as being one of the top area distance runners, Haddock was somewhat forced into that role with the team.

Coming into this season, she was hindered by a hip strain that did not allow her to accelerate as fast as she would like. It was especially evident in her signature event in 2005, the 400 meters. Now she runs only the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters, and she has yet to be beaten in any of those events by her rivals from Citrus and Hernando counties.

Haddock has tasted the atmosphere of state and postseason heats, so she knows what to expect going into the toughest part of the season. She was a member of Lecanto's fifth-place state 4x800-meter relay last season. That finish earned her a spot on the Times All-Citrus/Hernando 2005 honor roll.

She also knows what disappointment in that arena can feel like. At last year's regionals, Haddock technically placed ninth in the 400, but because of the system used to determine state qualifiers, she actually had a better heat time than three of the runners that moved on.

"It was tough to deal with," Haddock said, "but now I feel more determined because of that."

These facts exhibit her obvious physical skills, but no one takes more advantage of what she was given to work with than Haddock. Her motivation to be the best at everything she does is something that cannot be taught.

As a senior, she is expected to lead her underclassman teammates and help them improve, but she goes above the call of duty.

Coach Freddie Bullock outlined a situation from a couple weeks ago where the team was supposed to have a social gathering. When Haddock informed the coach she would be unable to attend, the rest of the team lobbied to have the meeting postponed to accommodate Lecanto's unofficial captain.

"It speaks so much to how these girls look at Tara," Bullock said. "She expects everyone to use the talent God gave them, and she can't understand it when people don't."

Other Panthers have used the words "heart and soul" when talking about Haddock's importance to the team's morale.

Her progression over the season shows some trends that could help her in the postseason.

In the 3,200, Haddock won the Kiwanis Invitational at Hernando in 12:14. That time would have placed her 11th at state last season. In the 1,600, her 5:37 at Kiwanis would have placed her 13th at state. Her 2:28 in the 800 also would have placed her 13th.

With more than a month of practice ahead of her, Haddock's times can only improve, especially considering her positive, hard-working attitude when it comes to competing.

"Tara doesn't need external motivation to drive her," Bullock said. "It's all so internal for her. She always wants to outdo herself."

[Last modified April 21, 2006, 01:41:14]