The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

High School Sports

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  • Oak Hill senior Lucas Gardner, seated center, signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to attend Fairmont State University and run cross country for the Falcons next fall. Seated with Gardner are his mother, Kelli, and his father, Jim. Standing in back, from left, are assistant cross country coach Dan Stowers, left, principal Tim Payton and head cross country coach George Smith. Steve Keenan

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February 9, 2012

Gardner signs with Fairmont

By Steve Keenan For The Register-Herald

When he started high school, running competitively in college wasn’t in Lucas Gardner’s plans.

That’s the wonderful thing about plans: They can change.

On Wednesday, Gardner signed a letter of intent to attend Fairmont State University and join the Fighting Falcons’ cross country team next fall.

“When I came in I didn’t think I’d be good enough (to run collegiately),” said Gardner, a senior who’s currently preparing for his last season as a member of the Oak Hill track team. “It wasn’t a priority.

“But I got better. It took great coaches, great teammates and a lot of hard work (which included offseason running and cross training).”

Gardner was a  member of the Devils’ 4x800-meter relay unit that placed fifth in last year’s state track meet. And he was the team’s second runner (16th place overall) in the 2011 state cross country meet, during which Oak Hill was third in a tight team race.

In addition to helping the 4x800 quartet possibly move to the top of the winner’s podium this coming spring, Gardner aims to improve his personal best in the 1600 and 3200 individual races and perhaps qualify for the state meet in those events.

At Fairmont, Gardner, a 4.0 student who will pursue a civil engineering technology degree, will be coached by Mary Mlinarcik. He’s also looking forward to being reunited with former Red Devils teammate Scotty Treadway, who was second-team All-West Virginia Conference for the FSU cross country team this past fall.

Gardner’s high  school track and cross country coach, George Smith, says he’ll miss Gardner’s contributions.

“I’m really proud of Lucas,” said Smith. “Lucas has always been such a hard worker, ever since he came to me as a freshman.

“He’s a heck of a runner. Every year, he’s gotten stronger and better and continued to work.”

Smith says Gardner’s work ethic spills over into his time away from sports.

“He’s dedicated to athletics, his church and his school,” he said. “He’s just an all-around good kid.”

— E-mail: skeenan@register-herald.com

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High School Sports