Imagine yourself as a freshman cross-country runner. Ten meters left in the district qualifying meet, and you’re in 9th place. You look over your left shoulder and don’t see anyone coming. You think to yourself, “I am going to state as a freshman!” Then you turn your head back around and see two runners to your right run past you. Only the top 10 runner make it to State. And your heart breaks.

Five-sport athlete Ryan Hawkins experienced that heartbreak four years ago. This fall Hawkins healed that emotional wound by qualifying at last, as a senior, for the state cross country meet. Hawkins earned his spot placing seventh out of the top 15 runners that go to state.  Hawkins ran the time of 17:03 his previous best time of 17:48. Hawkins and Tiffany Williams, who placed second out 15 runners at the girls district meet, are the only two runners from Atlantic that made it to state. The state meet was held Oct. 31 in Fort Dodge.

Hawkins has run on the cross country team for three years now. He participated in dual sports of cross country and football his freshman year, then took a break–playing only football–his sophomore year. Hawkins came back to cross country with a bang his junior and senior years. Hawkins also plays basketball in the winter and has been doing both track and soccer all four years as well, dual sporting track and soccer. In the summer he takes the mound as one of the varsity starters on the Trojan baseball team.

Besides going to state in cross country this year, Hawkins plans on going back to state in track like he did last spring. Last year, Hawkins made it to state in the 3200 with a time of 10:13. Hawkins runs the mile (1600) and the 2-mile (3200) in track. Because Hawkins also plays soccer, he isn’t at every track practice. That doesn’t show when he’s on the track leading in his race. Hawkins has a good shot at making it to state again this year.

Hawkins also plays basketball. “It’s my favorite sport.” Hawkins said. Hawkins plays all positions on the court. Hawkins has committed to Wayne State on a full ride scholarship for the next 4 years. Hawkins will be one of the 5 starting Trojan basketball players this year.

Hawkins is a big part of the Atlantic Trojan athletic program. As a tremendous athlete, he is going to leave some big shoes to fill next year and in the years to come.